Speeding on a long tail boat on the Chao Phraya River whilst the monarchy is watching. The magical reign of King Bhumibol ended on October 13, 2016. The king served as the symbol of Thai unity and stability and his departure has left a gigantic hole in the Thai political landscape. To the Thai people, the king meant everything. After his passing away the entire nation fell into a state of endless mourning and Thais were told to wear black for a year. His successor Rama X does not enjoy the same love and respect from the public that his father commanded. He lacks moral authority and charisma; he has shown little to no enthusiasm for working with democratic institutions or being a democratic advocate and his eccentric and lavish lifestyle is legendary. Will the new king stir up a greater sense of anti-monarchy? If he tries to forge the same kind of mutually beneficial alliance with the military like his father that may very well be the case and his reign may not survive. On the other hand, if he decides to start working with the democratic government, placing the monarchical institution strictly within the constitutional framework, the chance of the monarchy becoming a viable institution is bright. Net-net, Thailand is standing at an important crossroad. Let’s hope for the best for this beautiful country and its friendly and generous people – Bangkok, Thailand.
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