Thailand’s parliament on Tuesday invited Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to become the next king, resolving lingering anxiety over his accession following his father’s death last month. “I will invite the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to succeed to the throne and become king of the Thai people,” Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, head of the rubber stamp National Legislative Assembly said. Officially Thailand’s monarch has limited constitutional power. But over his seven-decade reign, Bhumibol built up a powerful network of alliances, especially within Thailand’s military elite, and forged a reputation as an arbiter in times of crisis. Since Bhumibol’s death, he has attended some of the daily funerary rites for his father but has made no public statements.

Source: Hindustan Times November 29, 2016 06:17 UTC