Former Thai PM Abhisit resigns as head of Democrats after election loss

 

Democrat Party leader and former Thailand's prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva casts his ballot to vote in the general election at a polling station in Bangkok, Thailand, March 24, 2019. REUTERS/Krit Promsakla Na Sakolnakorn

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stepped down as leader of the Democrat Party after its poor showing in a Sunday general election.

 

Thailand's oldest political party was in fourth place in the popular vote, with a little more that 3 million votes, according to partial results released by the Election Commission, with 91 percent of votes counted.

 

"I must take responsibility for this. I resign from my leadership of the Democrat Party," said Abhisit, who was prime minister from 2008 to 2011.

 

(Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Robert Birsel)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-25

Dismal electoral showing forces Abhisit to step down

By The Nation

 

 

Abhisit Vejjajiva tendered his resignation as Democrat leader on Sunday night, after his party’s dismal performance in the elections.

 

He said he took the responsibility for his party winning fewer seats in the Lower House than targeted. The Democrat leader also apologised for failing to convince voters.

 

“Due to what happened, I have to take responsibility as party leader. I resign,” he said grim-faced in front of an army of supporters and reporters outside the party’s headquarters. 

 

However, supporters met his emotionally delivered announcement with a long applause.

 

At 93-per-cent vote count, the Democrats had only won 42 House seats – far fewer than they did in the 2011 elections.

 

The country’s oldest political party was further embarrassed by major setbacks in its traditional strongholds – Bangkok and southern provinces. 

 

The Democrat leader had earlier announced that he would step down if his party won fewer than 100 seats in the House. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30366486

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-25

probably the best option for Thailand but if you are straight honest then you are never going to win - too many will vote from the pocket 

Seems like a reasonable response, but shouldn't someone put a stake in Abhisit's heart, just to be on the safe side?

"...Dismal electoral showing forces Abhisit to step down..."

 

Respectfully, when has he ever had a good showing? What elections did he win?

 

He was, and always been, a mere figurehead for others.

 

Good bye and good riddance.

 

 

4 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Dismal electoral showing forces Abhisit to step down..."

 

Respectfully, when has he ever had a good showing? What elections did he win?

 

He was, and always been, a mere figurehead for others.

 

Good bye and good riddance.

 

 

A bit harsh there isn't it? what's with the ' good riddance'' remark? what did he do wrong to deserve it? so he wasn't the best PM, but Abhisit, general Chumlong, Anand  Panyarachun and  Chuan Leekpai were the only honest and decent prime ministers of this country, in a country like Thailand that is a badge of honor... the rest, selveserving, greedy crooks to various degrees...

I had high hopes for Abhisit, but his time to shine would have been opposing the overthrow of a democratically elected government. By failing that, he had no right to seek democratic power. 

Both is very true!....unfortunately he would be the right person to run the country but has has to much 'bad past' on him....so ppl are afraid that could happen again

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

A bit harsh there isn't it? what's with the ' good riddance'' remark? what did he do wrong to deserve it? so he wasn't the best PM, but Abhisit, general Chumlong, Anand  Panyarachun and  Chuan Leekpai were the only honest and decent prime ministers of this country, in a country like Thailand that is a badge of honor... the rest, selveserving, greedy crooks to various degrees...

As Canackamuck noted above; he boycotted elections simply because he was going to lose, and failed to oppose coups when he had the chance; a real Democrat.

 

Further, he allowed himself to be used like a puppet so others could steal power.

 

Next, when 100 or so people died and thousands were injured on the streets of the capital, he denied any responsibility (gutless worm).

 

Finally, to say that he and the others weren't corrupt is laughable; they all appointed Suthep to serve them. They "weren't corrupt" because they hired the Devil to do their dirty work for them (cowards).

 

As above, Good Bye and Good Riddance!

1 hour ago, smedly said:

probably the best option for Thailand but if you are straight honest then you are never going to win - too many will vote from the pocket 

The people have spoken

 

BTW  Abhisit is NOT a straight honest man. He is just a wannabe that is as corrupt as the rest. Godd riddance Ab  

“Mark the traitor” got his bill presented yesterday - for short term gain he and the loonie Suthep gambled the parties credibility away.
Siding with the military having blood on his hands both never even realized that they had been used and played.
People recognize an opportunist who wants to become PM at all cost even by betraying each and every democratic principle.

Abhisit was finished the moment he had to hide out in a military camp overseeing the killing of unarmed civilians.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Dismal electoral showing forces Abhisit to step down..."

 

Respectfully, when has he ever had a good showing? What elections did he win?

 

He was, and always been, a mere figurehead for others.

 

Good bye and good riddance.

 

 

Like any politician in any country is a figurehead for others.

3 hours ago, smedly said:

probably the best option for Thailand but if you are straight honest then you are never going to win - too many will vote from the pocket 

He wasn't personally corrupt and he was certainly gifted in intellect. But in any comprehensive definition of "honest", I am afraid Abhisit failed miserably. He was never made properly accountable for his presiding over the death of unarmed civilians (though a minority was certainly armed). More generally as a sophisticated and civilized man, he knew what was the right thing to do as regards encouraging democracy and preventing military interference but singularly failed to do it. When a politician is driven by personal advancement calculation as opposed to principle (as with his friend Boris) the result is almost always a humiliating failure. Despite his privileged background (itself not an issue), he didn't really have the right breeding. In short, a character failure.

"Good guys in, Bad guys out" - need I say more?

The party should have let him resigned after the 2011 election defeat. Writings on the wall that he was a weak and lacking charisma but the party re-elected him as leader again. Now the oldest party will have to bear the responsibility and shame of this poor showing; not him alone. The executives of the party should also resign en bloc. If they continue to back the military, the party will be relegated to a small insignificant party.   

10 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

"Good guys in, Bad guys out" - need I say more?

You need not say more because, on the basis of your fatuous statement, you have nothing worthwhile to contribute.

Meantime at the ministry of you lost but still won its predictably business as usual as we need a new model Rolex you need a bowl of noodles????   

Could his action be part of the PR, spin, stunt, with the final result coming as no surprise?

 

The ruling and previously unelected military could now claim that the nation had the free choice to vote, and that everything is now democratic. 

 

Politics. Or bollocktics? 

 

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

I have to take responsibility as party leader

Maybe if he didn't waffle on a commitment to oppose a Prayut government, its undemocratic programs and constitution that he might have gotten more votes. He instead showed more consistency with his past reliance on the military to hold power than being an independent democratic leader.

Maybe with his exit as Democrat Party leader, the party will change its name rather than further blemishing the meaning of "democracy."

42 minutes ago, jayboy said:

You need not say more because, on the basis of your fatuous statement, you have nothing worthwhile to contribute.

Oh yes I have - the mass murder of innocent foreign and Thai civilians prior to the coup!

3 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Oh yes I have - the mass murder of innocent foreign and Thai civilians prior to the coup!

I have no idea what you are babbling about but please don't bother to explain.

That's the penalty for not listening to the people !

 

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

"Good guys in, Bad guys out" - need I say more?

Several of them (and some gals) actually fled the country, they were not forced out.

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

As Canackamuck noted above; he boycotted elections simply because he was going to lose, and failed to oppose coups when he had the chance; a real Democrat.

 

Further, he allowed himself to be used like a puppet so others could steal power.

 

Next, when 100 or so people died and thousands were injured on the streets of the capital, he denied any responsibility (gutless worm).

 

Finally, to say that he and the others weren't corrupt is laughable; they all appointed Suthep to serve them. They "weren't corrupt" because they hired the Devil to do their dirty work for them (cowards).

 

As above, Good Bye and Good Riddance!

 

Wow!

 

If you publicly called Mr. Red a "gutless worm", you'd be done for defamation!

 

Fortunately for you, Abhisit isn't known for sueing people for defamation, is he?

 

Though, this country has quite strict laws on defamation and is considered a criminal offence, as well as a civil one!

 

But you ain't a gutless worm, you're a tough guy. Lol.

 

For the record, I think Abhisit was probably one of the best of them. He can work with foreign countries, not isolate Thailand further.

Edited March 25, 20197 yr by FruitPudding

Abhisit is too "Good" for Thailand. Ban-noks and corrupt cronies don't like someone who is well-educated abroad, speaks impeccable English, and believes in basic human rights and freedom. If Mr. Dick Tater gets back to PM status it is just another referendum showing how totally not-ready LOS is for "democracy". 

He'll yo-yo back in a few weeks.

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

A bit harsh there isn't it? what's with the ' good riddance'' remark? what did he do wrong to deserve it? so he wasn't the best PM, but Abhisit, general Chumlong, Anand  Panyarachun and  Chuan Leekpai were the only honest and decent prime ministers of this country, in a country like Thailand that is a badge of honor... the rest, selveserving, greedy crooks to various degrees...

No argument there brother, U Hit the nail on the head Chuan, Abhisit and Chumalong, with Chuan the Thai economy grew out to 15% , pity about the over borrowing , however, Thailand has stagnated since, the problem with more political parties they pull votes away from mainstream, same happened in New Sth Wales in Oz this weekend, labour and the National party lost a combined 8%, to fruity loops.  

Edited March 25, 20197 yr by chainarong

9 hours ago, smedly said:

probably the best option for Thailand but if you are straight honest then you are never going to win - too many will vote from the pocket 

Isn't that broadly true in most countries? We're bribed with our own money!

 

The difference in Thailand being that they don't have a social welfare system for such purposes, so candidates just hand out 500 or 1,000 Baht notes instead.

Good, it is time for a change to someone that could win in todays environment and be strong enough to counter attempts by the military to hijack the government again. Even if it is the Thai Democratic party.

"Mark" was simply used to put a young, educated, progressive and less threatening face on a government that was installed by a military coup.

I seriously doubt he had much influence especially with the snake suthep hovering in the background.

Add to that the Democrats were the party of the establishment. Hard to go against the people that keeps the gravy train going.