Crown Prince Asks for Appropriate Time to be Enthroned – Thai PM

Bangkok — Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said late Thursday that the Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn had asked for time to mourn his father before being enthroned.

Prayut said he met with the Crown Prince at dusk Thursday to reporters in government house.

“He (Prince Vajiralongkorn) is already the heir apparent, but he asked time to grieve and to mourn his father with people around the country first,” said Prayut.

He added that the crown prince asked for an appropriate time in the future to be enthroned.

Prayut also said that the country is in a most important period, thus they have to make everything in order.

During an earlier TV address shortly after the palace statement proclaiming King’s death, Prayut said the successor to the throne was decided in December 1972, and the procedure for enthroning the new king will move on.

Prince Vajiralongkorn, King Bhumibol’s only son, was named Crown Prince, the heir apparent to the throne in 1972 in accordance with the Palace Law.

According to Thai constitution, when the throne becomes vacant and the King has already appointed his Heir under the 1924 Palace Law on Succession, the cabinet shall notify the Parliament president, who will convene members for acknowledgement.

National Legislative Assembly (NLA), which serves as an interim parliament in place of the parliament dissolved by the junta in 2014, held an urgent meeting at around 21:30 Thursday.

NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai just said they will move on according to the constitution and the Palace Law and there will be no general meeting until the Palace Law set procedure is finished. (PNA/Xinhua) JMC/EBP