Bangkok [Thailand]: The Thai Raksa Chart Party is prepared to seek a royal pardon in a bid to keep its MP candidates in the electoral race. This comes after the public reprimand by Thailand’s reigning monarch over the party footing Princess Ubolratana as its Prime Ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections.
Quoting sources, Bangkok Post also reported that executives behind the princess fiasco may resign to the keep the party’s prospectives for the March 24 elections afloat.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, labelled his older sister, Princess Ubolratana’s foray into politics as “inappropriate,” because she is a part of the royal family.
“Any attempt to involve a high-level member of the Royal Family in the political process – by whatever means, would be tantamount to breaching time-honoured royal traditions, customs and national culture. Such action must be deemed transgression and most inappropriate,” a statement issued by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted the King as saying.
The Thai constitution regards a special status to the royal family, which designates the monarchy to be above politics.
“Hence, the Queen, the heir to the throne, every said member of the Royal Family would come within the application of the same rule requiring the Monarch to be above politics and to be politically neutral,” the royal announcement issued in Thailand’s King’s name further mentioned.
The same rule applies to the oldest Princess, even though she relinquished her royal title after marrying a foreigner – a fact that was reinforced by her after her campaign for the Prime Minister’s post was announced on February 8.
The party has shown its resolve to continue contesting the elections, despite the setback.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Election Commission will meet on Monday to decide if the Political Party Act was breached when the party footed the princess as its Prime Ministerial candidate.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]