VOA慢速英语2019 泰国公主参选总理被推翻

Thai Princess' Nomination 1 for Prime Minister Is Struck Down

Thailand saw several eventful days after a princess’ name was officially entered -- and then struck down -- as a candidate for prime minister. Princess Ubolratana Mahidol is the older sister of Thailand’s king, Maha Vajiralongkorn.

公主正式被提名总理候选人又被推翻，泰国历经了多事之秋。乌汶叻公主是泰国国王哇集拉隆功的姐姐。

Observers say the move adds to the confusion about the upcoming March 24 election. The country has been under military rule since 2014. Next month’s election could return it to rule by an elected leader, even if it is a largely authoritarian 2 government that is friendly to the military.

观察人士称此举加剧了即将迎来的3月24日大选的混乱局面。自2014年以来，泰国一直处于军事统治之下。下个月的选举可能会让泰国重返民选领导人的统治之下，即便它很大程度上是一个对军方友好的专制政府。

Can the princess enter politics?

公主是否可以涉足政治？

The princess’ short candidacy was the first time a member of the royal family had tried to enter a political election. The princess and her relatives have traditionally been expected to rise above the usual political fighting. Official rules also prevent the royal family from participating directly in party politics.

乌汶叻公主短暂的候选人资格是泰国王室成员首次尝试涉足政治。传统上，公主及其亲属被寄望于超越世俗政治斗争。官方规定也禁止王室成员直接参与政党政治。

But Ubolratana says she does not have to follow those rules because she gave up her royal name in 1972 to marry an American.

但是乌汶叻公主称她不必遵守这些规定，因为她在1972年嫁给一位美国人时放弃了自己的王室身份。

Her candidacy was seen as a challenge to current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. He is a retired 3 general who has led the country under military rule since 2014, when his group seized power. He said he was competing in the upcoming election to keep law and order.

她的候选资格被视为对现任总理巴育的一大挑战。巴育是一位退役将军，他从2014年起一直领导着这个国家，当时他的团队夺去了政权。巴育称他会参加即将举行的大选以维护法律和秩序。

But the princess’ candidacy was quickly struck down. Her brother, the king, called it inappropriate and unconstitutional. Then the Election Commission disqualified her, saying members of the royal family must remain politically neutral.

但是乌汶叻公主的候选资格很快被推翻了。她的哥哥，泰国国王称这不合时宜并且违反了宪法。随后泰国选举委员会取消了她的资格，称王室成员必须保持政治中立。

The party that nominated the princess said in a statement that it accepted the king’s order. The party, called Thai Raksa Chart, is led by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He and his group have been in a years-long conflict with the royal family and people who support the monarchy 4. Thaksin was ousted 5 in a 2006 coup 6 after being accused of abuse of power and disrespect for the monarchy.

提名乌汶叻公主的政党在一份声明中表示接受国王的命令。这家名为泰护国党的政党是由前总理他信领导。他信和他的团队与王室以及保王派发生了长达数年的冲突。他信在2016年的政变中被赶下台，罪名是滥用权力和不尊重王室。

George McLeod is a political risk expert based in Thailand. He said that by putting forward the princess as a prime minister, Thaksin took a chance and lost.

George McLeod是一位驻泰国的政治风险专家。他说，他信把乌汶叻公主推上总理竞选的前台想碰个运气，但是失败了。

But a professor for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University had another idea. Pavin Chachavalpongpun said Thaksin may have achieved exactly what he wanted: forcing the Thai monarchy to engage publicly with politics, and showing conflict within the royal family.

但是京都大学专攻东南亚研究的一位教授有不同看法。Pavin Chachavalpongpun表示，他信可能已经达到了他想要的目标：迫使泰国王室公开卷入政治，并暴露出王室内部的冲突。

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

royal - adj. of or relating to a king or queen

challenge - n. an action, statement, etc., that is against something

inappropriate - adj. not right

disqualify - v. to stop or prevent someone from doing, having, or being a part of something