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| Thai King’s Sister Is Formally Barred From Running for Prime Minister | Thai King’s Sister Is Formally Barred From Running for Prime Minister |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thailand’s election commission on Monday disqualified the king’s sister from running for prime minister, formally putting an end to a candidacy that had briefly upended the nation’s political landscape. | Thailand’s election commission on Monday disqualified the king’s sister from running for prime minister, formally putting an end to a candidacy that had briefly upended the nation’s political landscape. |
| King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, 66, had publicly opposed the candidacy of his elder sister, Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Varnavadi, 67, effectively taking the decision away from the election commission. | King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, 66, had publicly opposed the candidacy of his elder sister, Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Varnavadi, 67, effectively taking the decision away from the election commission. |
| She was nominated on Friday by a party linked to the Shinawatras, a political family that includes two former prime ministers now living in exile. The two former leaders were accused of challenging Thailand’s royal institutions. | She was nominated on Friday by a party linked to the Shinawatras, a political family that includes two former prime ministers now living in exile. The two former leaders were accused of challenging Thailand’s royal institutions. |
| In nominating Ms. Ubolratana, the Thai Raksa Chart Party said she was “an educated and skilled person” who was the “most suitable choice.” | In nominating Ms. Ubolratana, the Thai Raksa Chart Party said she was “an educated and skilled person” who was the “most suitable choice.” |
| Though Ms. Ubolratana gave up her royal titles in 1972 when she married an American, Thailand’s strict laws against criticizing the constitutional monarchy raised concerns about how the news media would cover her candidacy. | Though Ms. Ubolratana gave up her royal titles in 1972 when she married an American, Thailand’s strict laws against criticizing the constitutional monarchy raised concerns about how the news media would cover her candidacy. |
| Ms. Ubolratana’s name was not on the list of candidates released by the election commission on Monday. In a statement, the commission said that members of the royal family were “above politics” and thus ineligible to run for office. | |
| The commission said it had based its decision on King Vajiralongkorn’s comments in a statement late Friday, in which he called his sister’s involvement in politics “improper and highly inappropriate.” | The commission said it had based its decision on King Vajiralongkorn’s comments in a statement late Friday, in which he called his sister’s involvement in politics “improper and highly inappropriate.” |
| “Involvement of a high-ranking member of the royal family in politics, in any way, is against the nation’s traditions, customs and culture,” the king’s statement said. | “Involvement of a high-ranking member of the royal family in politics, in any way, is against the nation’s traditions, customs and culture,” the king’s statement said. |
| The Election Commission’s decision means that the Thai Raksa Chart Party will not be able to field a candidate for prime minister since the filing deadline has already passed. The commission certified candidates for prime minister from 45 other parties. | |
| There was no immediate comment from the Thai Raksa Chart Party on Monday. A party news conference scheduled for after the commission’s announcement was canceled. | There was no immediate comment from the Thai Raksa Chart Party on Monday. A party news conference scheduled for after the commission’s announcement was canceled. |
| Thailand has been under military rule since a coup in 2014. Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former general and junta chief who was named prime minister that year by a rubber-stamp legislature, is a strong supporter of the royal family. | Thailand has been under military rule since a coup in 2014. Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former general and junta chief who was named prime minister that year by a rubber-stamp legislature, is a strong supporter of the royal family. |
| Mr. Prayuth has also announced his candidacy for prime minister in what will be the first general election since the coup. | Mr. Prayuth has also announced his candidacy for prime minister in what will be the first general election since the coup. |
| The election, which has been repeatedly delayed, is scheduled for March 24. | The election, which has been repeatedly delayed, is scheduled for March 24. |