H.M.
King Prajadhipok (1925-1935) was the country's last Absolute
Monarch and also its first Constitutional Monarch which he became after a coup
in 1932. However it must be emphasized that immediately upon becoming king, he sought
to institute measures to curb the Absolute Monarch's use of arbitrary powers and to put in train
changes towards constitutional monarchy. These include the appointments of
experienced princes as royal advisors and of a council to learn by experience
the methods of parliamentary deliberation. He also commissioned a thorough
study of the municipal form of government, which produced a draft Municipal
Bill that was almost ready when the coup was staged, and two constitution-like
documents for consideration. The second of these in early 1932 set out a
structure of executive-legislative relations and outlined procedures for the
election of members and outlined procedures for the election of members of the
House of Representatives. However, the drafters and the majority of the
princely advisors thought the time was not ripe for its promulgation because
the people were as yet not sufficiently politically astute. Though the king
preferred otherwise, he respected the majority opinion and postponed the
promulgation while emphasizing the necessity and urgency of public education
for democracy.
On June 24, 1932, a group of
military others and civilian officials staged a coup to effect the change to
constitutional monarchy. The king, concerned to avoid bloodshed and already
predisposed in the same direction, agreed to become the first Constitutional
Monarch. Subsequently, armed conflict ensued. The King strained to maintain
political neutrality. When conflicts of opinion between him and the government
prolonged, he decided to abdicate on March 2, 1935. A part of his abdication
statement read:
"Now I see that my desire
that the people have a real voice in the policies of the country has not been
fulfilled and as I feel that there is no longer any way for me to assist and
protect the people, I therefore desire to abdicate…"
By removing himself from the throne,
H.M. King Prajadhipok not only underlined the principles of the rule of law and
democracy but also made it possible for the Monarchy to survive the politically
turbulent situation.
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