King of Thailand blocks his sister’s bid to become the next Prime Minister a day after he condemned the ‘highly inappropriate’ move
- Princess Ubolratana Mahidol’s bid to become next Thai Prime Minister blocked
- The King of Thailand, her brother, banned Ms Ubolratana, 67, from running
- The upcoming election is the country’s first since the current Prime Minister, army general Prayut Chan-o-cha, took power in 2014 a military coup
Princess Ubolratana Mahidol’s bid to become the next prime minister of Thailand has been blocked by her brother, the king.
Her sudden decision to stand for the Thai Raksa Chart Party collapsed when King Maha Vajiralongkorn banned her from running.
Yesterday Ms Ubolratana, 67, thanked people for their support and encouragement.
![Thai Princess Ubolratana's decision to stand for the Thai Raksa Chart Party collapsed when King Maha Vajiralongkorn banned her from running. The upcoming election is the country's first since the current Prime Minister, army general Prayut Chan-o-cha, took power in 2014 a military coup [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/02/10/01/9552474-0-Thai_Princess_Ubolratana_pictured_in_2017_has_entered_the_politi-m-3_1549761715430.jpg)
Thai Princess Ubolratana’s decision to stand for the Thai Raksa Chart Party collapsed when King Maha Vajiralongkorn banned her from running. The upcoming election is the country’s first since the current Prime Minister, army general Prayut Chan-o-cha, took power in 2014 a military coup [File photo]
After her original announcement, the king had issued a statement from the palace which declared the royals ‘exist in a status above politics’.
The Thai Raksa Chart party is steered by the divisive Shinawatra political clan.
The Thai royal family, a revered institution shielded from criticism by a tough defamation law, has traditionally been seen as above the political fray, although royals have intervened in moments of political crisis.
The upcoming election is the country’s first since the current Prime Minister, army general Prayut Chan-o-cha, took power in 2014 a military coup.
Mr Prayut overthrew the democratic government of Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
![King Maha Vajiralongkorn issued a late statement from the palace which declared the royals 'exist in a status above politics'. Princess Ubolratana Mahidol¿s bid to become the next prime minister of Thailand has been blocked by her brother, the king [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/02/10/01/9571732-0-King_Maha_Vajiralongkorn_issued_a_late_statement_from_the_palace-m-2_1549761680679.jpg)
King Maha Vajiralongkorn issued a late statement from the palace which declared the royals ‘exist in a status above politics’. Princess Ubolratana Mahidol’s bid to become the next prime minister of Thailand has been blocked by her brother, the king [File photo]