BANGKOK: Thailand’s Constitutional Court today ruled to dissolve Thai Raksa Chart Party that nominated a princess as their prime minister candidate in the March 24 general election.
The court also ruled that the party’s 14 executive members faced a 10-year ban from politics.
Following the court ruling today, the party’s 282 candidates are disqualified and will not stand in the March 24 general election.
The panel of nine judges voted unanimously for the party’s dissolution while it was 6-3 to ban the 14 executive members from politics for 10 years.
The court said Thai Raksa Chart had drawn the monarchy into politics by nominating the King’s eldest sister, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi as prime minister Candidate, breaking the kingdom’s tradition.
The act (nominating Princess Ubolratana) would undermine the rule of constitutional monarchy, the court said. Therefore, it ordered the party be dissolved.
Local media reported that the court ruling was unavoidable as King Maha Vajiralongkorn said it was “extremely inappropriate” for royals to be involved in politics as they should be “politically neutral”.
Earlier, hundreds of police and security officials were at the court compound while a checkpoint was set up in the area.
Party supporters waited at the lobby of the Constitutional Court here, weeping after the judges ruled the case.
Meanwhile, Thai Raksa Chart Party leader Preechapol Pongpanich said the party respected the court ruling.
“We are deeply saddened (by the court ruling). The dissolution will affect the basic rights and freedom of the party candidates and fellow Thais to cast their ballots in the upcoming elections.
“We do not have any intention to harm the constitutional monarchy….we want the best for this country,” he told reporters who waited at the Constitutional Court’s lobby.
On Feb 8, Thai Raksa Chart Party, a populist party loyal to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, created an uproar in the country when it nominated Princess Ubolratana as its candidate for prime minister.
Princess Ubolratana was later disqualified as a candidate by the Election Commission (EC) following King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s command that she should stay above politics as she is still a member of the royal family.
Later, the EC filed a petition to dissolve the party following its move to nominate the princess as its candidate for prime minister and for being hostile to the constitutional monarchy. – Bernama
