The Thailand princess’ party faces pressure to dissolve even though it has obeyed the king’s command to withdraw her nomination as prime ministerial candidate.
Feb. 9 (UPI) — The Thailand princess’ party faces pressure to dissolve even though it has obeyed the king’s command to withdraw her nomination as prime ministerial candidate.
Princess Ubolratana Mahidol’s declaration to run for prime minister in the populist party, Thai Raksa Chart, for the March elections, at age 67, could have shaken up a military junta that has ruled the country since a 2014 coup. But that came to an end Friday night after her younger brother, King Maha Vajuralongkorn, challenged her nomination.
The Thai Raksa Party is aligned with the country’s exiled former leader, Thaksin Shinawatra. Ubolratana was nominated by the party in an unprecedented move, marking the first time in the 86-year history of Thailand’s constitutional monarchy that a royal family member has sought the prime minister seat.
