King bars Princess Ubolratana from entering politics
His Majesty the King issued a statement on Friday night prohibiting his older sister Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi from entering politics after she decided to accept a pro-Thaksin Shinawatra party’s invitation to run as its PM candidate.
Some 12 hours after Ubolratana’s name was submitted to the Election Commission as Thai Raksa Chart Party’s sole prime ministerial candidate, His Majesty issued a nationally televised statement saying immediate members of the Royal Family traditionally stayed above politics.
Princess Ubolratana, who relinquished her royal status in 1972 after marrying a foreigner, is the oldest daughter of King Rama IX.
Though Ubolratana has given up her royal titles, she has maintained close ties with the Royal Family and worked under the name of the monarchy, the statement said, adding, “it is against tradition, norms and culture to bring members of the Royal Family into politics”.
The country’s charters, including the current Constitution, have given the monarchy a special status, keeping them above politics and protecting them from legal action and defamation.
The King has always assigned members of the Royal Family to represent and work on his behalf, hence no immediate member of the Royal Family can hold a political position, the statement said.
