Thai Raksa Chart’s statement said the party loyally accepted the king’s order and expressed deep gratitude to Ubolratana for her kindness toward the party. Her candidacy would have pitted her against the junta leader and current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the preferred choice for premier of the pro-royalist military. Her association with the monarchy was seen as making it difficult for royalists in parliament, which picks the prime minister, to vote against her. An early edition of the English-language Bangkok Post with the banner headline ‘Political earthquake,’ failed to report the aftershock of the king’s order. There had been warning signs before the king’s order that Ubolratana’s candidacy was vulnerable.

Source: National Post February 09, 2019 07:30 UTC