Thailand’s EC seeks dissolution of Thai Raksa Chart party

Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday (Feb 13) asked the constitutional court to dissolve a political party that put forward a princess as a candidate for prime minister, days after the move earned a royal rebuke from her brother, the king.

The court said it would decide on Thursday whether or not to accept the case.

Thailand will hold a general election on March 24, its first since a military coup in 2014. The contest looks set to be a showdown between the military-backed, royalist Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha and supporters of Thaksin.

Thailand has been mired in political drama since last Friday when Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya’s name was submitted by Thai Raksa Chart, a party allied with the powerful Shinawatra clan.

Princess Ubolratana’s unprecedented bid to enter frontline politics unraveled within hours, after King Maha Vajiralongkorn decried the entry of a royal into the political fray as “highly inappropriate”.

Thailand’s monarchy is seen as above politics, although royals have intervened in public during times of political crisis.

The princess was disqualified as a candidate by the EC, which then filed a request with the constitutional court to have Thai Raksa Chart disbanded for bringing a royal family member into politics.

The election commission said in a statement the Thai Raksa Chart party had violated an electoral law with its nomination of the king’s sister, which was “antagonistic toward the constitutional monarchy”.

“Therefore, it is agreed that a petition will be submitted to the Constitutional Court to consider dissolving the Thai Raksa Chart Party,” it said in a statement.

Thai Raksa Chart officials told reporters the party did not violate the electoral law and it would ask the Constitutional Court to be “merciful”.

The party was one of several sets up by Thaksin loyalists as back-up parties in case his main Pheu Thai party is disqualified for some reason.

Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy since 1932, but the royal family wields great influence and commands widespread devotion, with the king considered to be semi-divine.

The monarchy in Thailand is considered sacred and revered by its people, and is under the protection of draconian lese majeste laws. The king’s word is considered final.