Bangkok (dpa) - Thailand's Princess Ubolratana, King Maha
Vajiralongkorn's elder sister, was on Friday nominated as prime
minister for the March 24 general election by Thai Raksa Chart, a
party founded by allies of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
It is the first time in the country's history that a member of the
royal family is to run for office and become directly involved in
politics.
"The Thai Raksa Chart Party is highly honoured by Princess
Ubolratana's bid for the party's prime ministerial nomination," the
party said in a statement.
"The princess has worked to promote Thailand's tourism industry for
up to 10 years. She deems it appropriate timing to volunteer to work
as a prime minister to help the people and the country," the party
added.
The 67-year-old princess officially relinquished her royal title when
she married a US national in 1972. She returned to Thailand in the
late 1990s after getting a divorce. Although her formal title was not
restored, she is regarded and treated as royalty by the Thai people.
Ubolratana is also known as a long-time friend of the Shinawatra
family, which has an influence on the upcoming election through its
proxy political parties without fielding a direct family member this
time.
Friday was the last day political parties could nominate their prime
ministerial candidates. Each party is allowed to nominate up to three
people.
The princess's prime ministerial bid was heavily rumoured earlier
this week but there was no confirmation until Friday.
Ubolratana has yet to make any comment on the nomination. But she
posted photos on her Instagram page saying she was in the northern
city of Chiang Mai, along with the cryptic message "we will walk
together."
Political analysts see the shocking move as a further political
complication in the South-East Asian country ahead of its first
election since the 2014 coup and return to democracy.
"Thai politics' faultline has been drawn on the monarchy. [Now] the
era of the so-called 'monarchy above politics' is officially over,"
said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a political science lecturer at Kyoto
University.
Soon after the princess's nomination, Thai Prime Minister and junta
leader Prayut Chan-o-cha announced that he accepted the pro-junta
Phalang Pracharat Party's nomination as its prime ministerial
candidate.
"I have thoroughly considered the party's policies and I deem that
they can further the programmes the [military regime] has
initiated... so I accept the Phalang Pracharat Party's nomination as
a prime minister candidate," Prayut said in a statement.
"I maintain that I have no intention to prolong my power in office. I
only want to work for the benefits of the country and the people," he
added.
The 64-year-old general staged a coup in May 2014 after months of
massive demonstrations against the Yingluck Shinawatra
administration, becoming the country's prime minister in August of
the same year.
Initially planning to stay in power for only one year, the junta
postponed the election date at least five times, citing the need to
fulfill its reforms and oversee a smooth royal succession.