MM Online - Thai princess says #ILoveYou to fans after king opposes her PM candidacy (extracts):
BANGKOK, Feb 9 — The Thai princess whose stunning announcement she was running for prime minister was quickly opposed by her brother, the king, thanked her supporters today, saying she wants Thailand to be “moving forward”, but she did not comment on her candidacy.
Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, 67, shocked the country yesterday when she announced she would be the prime ministerial candidate for a populist party loyal to ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, in a March 24 election.
But her foray into politics — breaking with royal tradition — looked to be short-lived after her younger brother, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, quickly signalled he opposed it, which is likely to lead to her disqualification.
The Election Commission, which is overseeing the first polls since a 2014 military coup that overthrew a pro-Thaksin government, said it would issue a ruling on the issue on Monday.
The Election Commission, which is overseeing the first polls since a 2014 military coup that overthrew a pro-Thaksin government, said it would issue a ruling on the issue on Monday.
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with daughters - her only son, an autistic, perished in the 2004 tsunami at Khao Lak while holidaying there |
Princess Ubolratana ('Ubol' is pronounced as 'Ubon') has defiantly said she will contest as a commoner. She intends to stand as a prime ministerial candidate for the pro-Thaksin Thai Raksa Chart Party.
Her move must have given the sh*ts to the other prime ministerial candidate General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the leader of the 2014 coup and head of the ruling military junta. I bet the General must have run off to complain to the King, wakakaka.
Thailand's reigning king, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, is her younger brother by a year.
The King has voiced his objections though as mentioned, she wants to stand as a commoner, which she actually had become since 40 years ago when she gave up her royal titles to marry Peter Ladd Jensen, an American fellow MIT graduate.
When she did that in 1972, she broke her father's heart, that of the former (late) King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as she was his favourite daughter.
While her royal name is Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, her legal commoner name is Ubolratana Mahidol.
Ms Ubolratana Mahidol may not get to contest in the elections as the Thai Election Commissioner may 'disqualify' her candidacy, wakakaka. But she is extremely popular in Thailand because of her charity work amongst the common people, and this coupled with the popularity of the pro-Thaksin Party, endow her with immense appeal to the Thai people.
I wonder whether the EC dares to rule her candidacy out?
I wonder whether the EC dares to rule her candidacy out?
She has not had the Princess title for decades, and no Royal privileges.
ReplyDeleteShe gave it up to marry a commoner, and a Farang to boot.
It is unfair to now declare that she IS a dejurre Royal and therefore not eligible to be an election candidate.
Methinks the Thai King, who frankly has NOT been above politics in actual fact, is interfering to protect Prayut.
while she gave up her royal titles in 1972 to marry her fellow MIT graduate, after her divorce in 1998 and her return to Thailand in 2001 she resumed her titles and performed/participated in several roral ceremonies - she was afterall her father's favourite. During her time in the USA, her mum Queen Sirikit visited her frequently and she in turn visited her royal family in thailand too
DeleteShe is a royal family member who is not barred from politics, and thus can be the next PM. But that coup leader takut kalah mah.. so asked her brother the King to lese-majeste-d her. Military junta versus democracy indeed. Of course junta wins la..
ReplyDeleteA lady with brain - studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (the REAL one!), graduating with bachelors of science degrees in mathematics (!!!) and biochemistry in 1973 (Double degrees!). She later obtained a master's degree in public health at UCLA.
ReplyDeleteWakakakakaka.…
In Malaysia, the military Generals have sold their souls to Politicians and instead of defending King and country, have ended up defending Ahjibkor and UMNO previously.
ReplyDeleteSo, what happen to the monies given by Ahjibkor to the Military intelligence? What was it for? Who shared the loot?
Malaysian King’s abdication supposedly due to his marriage to a foreign beauty queen/commoner. Horrors. Now the Thai King’s divorcee sister who gave up all her royal titles now wanting to be PM. We are certainly getting good entertainment value from our royal families.
ReplyDeleteEven Republic of Indonesia’s jailbird Christian divorcee Ahok is out free and is marrying a young wife less than half his age....Kiasu Singapore better keep up with more juicy spins from the Lee family please.