• Burmese
Monday, October 2, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
28 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Thai Election Commission to Rule on Princess Running For PM After King’s Rebuke

by Reuters
February 11, 2019
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Thai Raksa Chart party leader Preechapol Pongpanich holds up the prime minister application of Thailand's Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi at the Election Commission office in Bangkok on Friday. / Reuters

Thai Raksa Chart party leader Preechapol Pongpanich holds up the prime minister application of Thailand's Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi at the Election Commission office in Bangkok on Friday. / Reuters

5.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

BANGKOK — Thailand’s Election Commission will consider on Monday the surprise nomination of a Thai princess as a prime ministerial candidate for March elections after her brother, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, called it “inappropriate” and unconstitutional.

The commission will also consider a complaint seeking to ban the populist party that stunned the nation by nominating Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, 67, for the role.

RelatedPosts

Myanmar’s KNU Distances Itself From Ex-Chairman Who Met With Junta Boss

Myanmar’s KNU Distances Itself From Ex-Chairman Who Met With Junta Boss

October 2, 2023
94
Myanmar’s Cash-Strapped Junta Hikes Taxes, Utilities Despite Surging Inflation

Myanmar’s Cash-Strapped Junta Hikes Taxes, Utilities Despite Surging Inflation

October 2, 2023
318
Blackouts Lengthen in Yangon as Power Crisis Worsens in Myanmar

Blackouts Lengthen in Yangon as Power Crisis Worsens in Myanmar

October 2, 2023
852

The election on March 24 is the first since a military coup in 2014.

Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy since 1932, but the royal family wields great influence and commands the devotion of millions.

Ubolratana’s nomination last week was a shocking move by the Thai Raksa Chart party, made up of supporters of ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, and broke with a longstanding tradition of members of the royal family staying above politics.

She gave up her royal titles after marrying an American and she has starred in soap operas and an action movie.

But in a statement read out on all television stations within hours of her candidacy, King Vajiralongkorn said it was “inappropriate” for members of the royal family to enter politics.

The Election Commission has until Friday to rule on the princess’s candidacy. Its members are unlikely to disregard the wishes of the king, who while a constitutional monarch, is considered semi-divine in Thai society.

On Sunday, an activist said he would file a petition to disqualify the Thai Raksa Chart party.

“The royal announcement made it clear that the party violated electoral law,” Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, told Reuters.

Thai Raksa Chart’s Executive Chairman Chaturon Chaisaeng declined to comment on Sunday on the request to disband the party. In a statement, the party said it “will move forward into the election arena to solve problems for the country.”

Electoral law forbids parties from using the monarchy in campaigns.

Thai Raksa Chart is one of several pro-Thaksin parties contesting the election.

The junta leader, Prayuth Chan-ocha, is also contesting the race for prime minister as the candidate of a pro-military party. Prayuth was the Thai army chief in 2014 and led the coup that ousted a government led by Thaksin’s sister.

Parties loyal to former telecommunications tycoon Thaksin have defeated pro-establishment parties to win every election since 2001, but since 2006 each of their governments have been removed by court rulings or coups.

The gambit to nominate a member of the royal family could backfire on Thai Raksa Chart, said Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of the faculty of political science at Ubon Ratchathani University.

“Things are now more unpredictable,” Titipol told Reuters.

If the party is dissolved, it could give more seats to anti-Thaksin affiliated parties, he said, although there are other parties loyal to the ex-premier contesting the election.

Thaksin, himself ousted in a coup in 2006, lives in self-imposed exile after being convicted by a Thai court of corruption in absentia.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Thai Election Commission
Previous Post

This Week in Parliament

Next Post

Mall or Park? In Crowded Bangkok, ‘Last’ Open Space Stirs Debate

Reuters

Reuters

...

Similar Picks:

No Content Available
Load More
Next Post
A view of Bangkok on May 4. / Reuters

Mall or Park? In Crowded Bangkok, 'Last' Open Space Stirs Debate

Firefighters leave Manaung on a search-and-rescue operation. / Rakhine State Fire Services Department

18 Missing after Port Authority Vessel Capsizes off Rakhine Coast

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Myanmar Coup Leader Fires Two Members of Junta’s Highest Body for Corruption

Myanmar Coup Leader Fires Two Members of Junta’s Highest Body for Corruption

6 days ago
2.5k
Myanmar’s Military Bogged Down in North as Resistance Rises

Myanmar’s Military Bogged Down in North as Resistance Rises

3 days ago
1.7k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Travel Sector Mocks Junta Tourist Claim

    Myanmar Travel Sector Mocks Junta Tourist Claim

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Blackouts Lengthen in Yangon as Power Crisis Worsens in Myanmar

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Dozens of Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Three Days of Resistance Attacks

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Junta Boss Issues Warning as Corruption Scandal Engulfs Myanmar Regime 

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Another Junta Flotilla in Upper Myanmar is Under Fire

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.