Thailand’s election panel on Monday disqualified the sister of the king from running for prime minister, putting an end to a stunning, short-lived candidacy by echoing King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s words that royalty should be “above politics”. The Election Commission released the official list of parties’ candidates for prime minister without the name of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, 67, the king’s elder sister Reuters reported. Among the candidates for prime minister is the current junta leader Prayuth Chan-Ocha, who as army chief led the coup. Ubolratana’s surprise nomination broke with a tradition that members of the royal family stay out of politics. In a statement read on all Thai television stations within hours of Ubolratana’s announcement as a candidate, King Vajiralongkorn said it was “inappropriate” and unconstitutional for members of the royal family to enter politics.

Source: Nigerian Tribune February 11, 2019 10:30 UTC