The adviser of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), Tida Tawornseth, expressed support on Friday for Thai Raksa Chart's nomination of Princess Ubolratana as its sole candidate for the prime ministerial post.
Touting the latest political development involving the Thai Raksa Chart Party as "huge and intriguing", Ms Tida said the Thai public should give the princess a chance as she steps into the political realm.
She said the princess' nomination may come as a shock to some, but history shows that several social elite figures have engaged in political activities.
In her view, the nomination comes as a shock only for those who are against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and want to rid him from the Thai political scene.
Thaksin's critics such as the now-dissolved People's Alliance for Democracy have accused him of being disloyal and tried to involve the institution of monarchy in politics.
With the princess on the Thai Raksa Chart's prime ministerial ticket, those who are against Thaksin can longer resort to such accusations, she said.
The UDD adviser said Thai Raksa Chart Party's move is an attempt to turn the tables on the regime and prevent it from prolonging its stay in power.
She pointed out that winning the election is not enough because the regime has the coup-sponsored 250-member Senate who will join in the prime ministerial vote.
She said she believes the princess stands a very strong chance of being chosen as the prime minister but the Thai Raksa Chart Party will need to win at least 25 House seats in order to be eligible to nominate a prime ministerial candidate for parliament to vote upon.
Under the constitution, parliament will only vote on the choices put forth by parties that have secured at least 25 House seats.
"With all being said, prai [serfs] can go backwards and elites can be progressive. There are also people who rebel against their own ranks. Not all prai or intellectuals are progressive," she said.
Viphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai, a party-list candidate for Thai Raksa Chart and a red-shirt leader, said he believes the nomination is in the country's best interests.
He said the party's prime ministerial candidate has charisma and is the centre of unity and that he believes she can restore peace and bring people with different views together.
"The current leader is full of anger and short of mercy. To move the country forward, we need a leader who has charisma, can bring diversity and differences together and bring good to the county," he said.
Asked about the prospect of the establishment of a national unity administration, Mr Viphuthalaeng said it is possible.
