Landslides when Thailand's princess wants to become prime minister

Ubolratana Rajakanya is the first member of the royal court as in the policy on the 85 year, ago Thailand ceased to be an absolute monarchy.

Her candidacy has at one stroke reduced the military junta opportunities to remain in power after the election on 24 march.

Later on Friday, the news came that her brother, the king Maha Vajiralongkorn is opposed to her involvement in politics. “Inappropriate”, read a statement from the royal palace.

Syskonfejden seems to be a fact.

Ubolratana is a well known face in Thailand. She is an actress who played in several movies. She was described as popular and active on social media.

In summary, it sounds like a recipe for success to win an election anywhere in the world in the year 2019.

Comparatively, the thai news a Swedish co-operation over the blockgränsen to appear as a trifle.

However, an invisible cloud hovering over the former princess: can the nomination of her criticism? Can she be criticised?

against the lèse majesté cases, which makes the criticism of the royal family, or is deemed to defame the king, the queen or anyone else can be sentenced to between three and fifteen years in prison.

On Friday refused political analyst in Thailand to comment on the Ubolratanas candidacy. They had first questioned it on social media deleted quickly their posts.

" If I could answer you, so I would answer. But I can't, said the deputy prime minister Wissanu Krea-ngam told reporters in Bangkok, according to the New York Times.

then in Switzerland as the oldest of four children born to the former king Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in September 2016. Number two of the siblings are Maha Vajiralongkorn, the current king.

in 1972, she moved to the USA where she married an american. She studied biochemistry and obtained a master's degree in public health. In connection with the marriage, she decided to renounce his royal title as princess. A few years after the couple had divorced, she moved in 2001 back to Thailand. One of the couple's three children died tragically in the great tsunami of 2004.

Back in Thailand took her film career momentum, with roles in three movies.

According to a statement from the party that now wants to make her prime minister, she became interested in politics when she led a television program in which she gave the teens advice on how they would keep themselves away from drugs.

in recent years she has sung in the video footage, which has become popular online.

despite the lack of the title princess been treated as an official royalty. Hence the uncertainty on Friday if it is allowed to make critical comments on the nomination of her.

It doesn't get easier when she regains her royal title, which she plans to be done in connection with her brother, the king, is undergoing a three days long the coronation in may.

Then can Thailand have a prime minister who no one can criticise without the risk of being thrown in jail.

Her brother the king, in the day with three marriages behind him, had a persistent reputation as a playboy already in the 20s. Other dealings were with men who were suspected to have criminal contacts.

prevented a completely open debate about the crown prince Vajiralongkorns suitability to one day inherit the throne from his father. Despite the fact it was his reputation considerably tarnished.

But how he spoiled his pet dog gave a glimpse into his everyday life. He was then a bizarre simpleton.

Sometimes ruled he out the dog in the go-away-trim, as when they both visited the united states embassy in Bangkok in 2007, when he, according to the leaked Wikileaksdokument, let their dog jump up on the tables and drink the water out of the dricksglasen.

crown Prince Vajiralongkorn was described always as a lame duck.

When he succeeded his father king Bhumibol put a question mark as to how he would cope with his new role. Today, the sight of him changing. Up grows the image of a 66-year-old king with more ambition than what it could seem when he inherited the throne.

he Has, in fact, been fully occupied with collecting power for themselves after his father died in October 2016?

the core of the Question after the older sister's political aspirations become known. And he himself in a public comment criticized the times.

in recent years gained in both military and religious influence. The most important was that the government, in 2017 gave him full control over the agency, which manages the royal family's fortune.

Actually had general Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the coup in 2014, and then appointed himself prime minister, no choice. If he wanted the king's signature under the document that changed the constitution, he was more or less forced to go along with the agreement that the king had control over the assets of 300 billion crowns himself.

Kuppgeneralen Prayuth announced yesterday his candidacy for the post of prime minister. He had thought to prolong their five years in power, but had not reckoned with a royal opponent. What happens now?

the royal family has been out of politics since 1932. The shock in Thailand are described as large. To Ubolratana is nominated for a party which in the past always been seen as the royal political antithesis does not make the sensation less.

the royal family and the military have always been together in Thailand. When the generals thought the time ripe, they have carried out a coup and cleared away the politicians they don't like. There have been a dozen times. Then, the constitution has been rewritten and new and often undemocratic laws instituted. Finally everything has been approved with a royal signature.

when the military ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He then went in exile to escape a prison sentence for corruption. He operated later, until his sister Yingluck as the new prime minister. She cleared away in a new military coup in 2014, is accused of having failed with a program that subsidized rice.

One reason for the latest coup is also considered to have been the then-crown prince Vajiralongkorn liked hanging out with Thaksin.

the Debate could of course not be in the public domain on the basis of the law on lèse majesté cases, but the military was said to have been concerned by the crown prince and the former prime minister's friendship, and what it would lead to the day king Bhumibol died.

the Generals should perhaps have been more for her sister's close ties with the Shinawatra family. Hörsägnen has said that the Ubolratana more and more often met both Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra in the past year.

Yet her features like a lightning from a clear sky.