At last, the electorate saw the full list of prime ministerial candidates Friday for the upcoming March 24 general election, with Princess Ubolratana emerging as an unprecedented option and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as the least surprising one.
With new electoral and parliamentary systems tailor-made by the junta-appointed lawmakers for Gen Prayut's easy return to power, the road for the country to restore democracy for the first time in almost five years will be challenging.
What the country needs is a fair, competitive and open environment during the campaign period. And what holds the key to electoral success is a democratic process of constructive debate on, and scrutiny of, all political parties' policy platforms and the calibre of their prime ministerial candidates, including the princess.
The decision by Princess Ubolratana, 67, to enter the political fray as the sole candidate of the Thai Raksa Chart Party has prompted questions over whether she will be subject to the kind of criticism politicians traditionally face.
Some have expressed caution over the probability of boundaries being blurred. Moreover, this law, which carries heavy jail sentences, has been abused by non-royals against their political opponents.
But it is a welcome sign that the princess on Friday expressed her intention to be part of the democratic process. In an Instagram post, the princess insisted she is a commoner, and that by entering the political fray she is exercising the rights and freedom guaranteed by the constitution for all Thais. She said she does not have privileges over other candidates.
Her stance on criticism stands as a reminder that self-censorship should not be applied by the media, the public or the Thai Raksa Chart Party's rivals when it comes to criticisms made of her or her party.
Meanwhile, Gen Prayut's acceptance of the Palang Pracharath Party's (PPRP) candidacy is a tiring and dry development. The premier has kept the public guessing about his decision for months, during which he has taken a series of mobile cabinet meetings in the provinces to meet the electorate.
Instead of taking a caretaker role like his predecessors in the lead-up to the poll, Gen Prayut has insisted on keeping the top job until a new government is formed.
Since the election law forbids the use of state resources to gain advantage over other parties, Gen Prayut must end any activities that will favour him and the PPRP. These include his weekly TV talk show, which has been broadcast on all pool TV channels and used as a PR blitz for his regime. His mobile cabinet trips, an obvious means of electioneering, must end.
More importantly, every action and criticism made against him must be allowed. No one should be arrested or charged by the police for challenging his authority, or criticising him, as was the case recently with two student activists.
With the unusual candidates, the election campaign will be extraordinarily fierce, competitive and more interesting. And everyone should be allowed to challenge and criticise them.
