Democrats cut ties with their 77-year past: what’s next for Thailand’s oldest party?

[snoop1130]

 

The Democrat Party has reached a crucial turning point in its 77-year history, having elected a new leader amid infighting that has sparked an exodus of senior figures.

 

Chalermchai Srion, acting party leader and secretary-general, was elected uncontested as the new Democrat chief at the party’s general meeting last Saturday (December 9).

 

His leadership rival Watanya Bunnag failed to get the minimum 75% of votes required to waive the rule that a candidate must have been a party member for at least five years. Watanya only joined the party last year.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-12-13

 

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[GarryP]

Death. 

[hotchilli]

Done and buried...

[jacko45k]

38 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Done and buried...

Democracy in Thailand.......finally choked to death!

[Purdey]

Not sure the Democrat Party ever represented democracy. This may be one of the reasons no one voted for them. They were what I would call the status quo (not the rock group).

[herfiehandbag]

45 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Not sure the Democrat Party ever represented democracy. This may be one of the reasons no one voted for them. They were what I would call the status quo (not the rock group).

Almost as old though!😃

[Caldera]

What's next? Obsolescence.

[kingstonkid]

9 hours ago, Purdey said:

Not sure the Democrat Party ever represented democracy. This may be one of the reasons no one voted for them. They were what I would call the status quo (not the rock group).

The Democratic Party was the military elite's arm of power.  Unfortunately for them, the military decided that they wanted their own party and that killed the Dems.

 

The next blow to the party was not reading the tea leaves.  When they realized they were being abandoned unfortunately the old guard said they could march through.

 

The prognosis for this party is that they will become like a lot of other Thai parties just a vehicle for a couple of old men to get more money out of the system and maintain a semblance of power.

 

When you court and vote for your long-time rival PTP then you are admitting you are done and dusted and do not really mean what you say.

 

Then you bring in an old fossil that said he would quit if they lost as your leader instead of someone younger who understands where the people are going.

[newnative]

No great loss if the party disappears.  Far too many parties already.