BANGKOK, Feb 8 (TNA) — The leader of the People Reform Party asks the Election Commission to dismiss the Thai Raksa Chart Party’s nomination of Princess Ubolratana as its prime minister candidate.
People Reform Party leader Paiboon Nititawan arrived at the Office of the Election Commission (EC) to file his request.
He said the EC’s regulation on vote campaigns prohibited any party from involving the royal institution in a vote campaign. He referred to Clause 17 in Chapter 4 of the EC’s regulations.
Princess Ubolratana was the eldest child of HM late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and HM Queen Sirikit and the only elder sister of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Although the princess had relinquished her royal title in 1972, she was a part of the royal institution according to Section 5 of the Constitution.
Nominating the princess as its prime ministerial candidate, the Thai Raksa Chart would certainly use her name in its vote campaigns, Mr Paiboon said.
He asked the EC to rule on the matter to set a precedent in addition to his request for the commission to turn down the nomination.
If the EC turned it down, the Thai Raksa Chart would not be considered as violating the EC’s regulation which could otherwise lead to its dissolution, Mr Paiboon said.
He also cited a ruling of the Constitutional Court in 2000 that members of the royal family had to be free of any political involvement and politically neutral. (TNA)
