It’s Show Time For A New, Young Thai Leader

[george]

The Nation:

It’s show time for young leader

BANGKOK: -- ‘Democrat Assembly’ will show how well Abhisit has taken the reins of the party

Seven months after Abhisit Vejjajiva took the leadership of the Democrat Party, the restructuring he promised should begin to take real shape this weekend.

The “Democrat Assembly” aims to give voice to real public desires, as opposed to projects foisted on the people by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his ruling Thai Rak Thai Party.

More than 3,000 people are expected to join the gathering, which could the biggest event Abhisit has handled since asuming the Democrat leadership after the resignation of Banyat Bantadtan in early March.

With the belief that making new allies while expanding their voter base would enable them to challenge the seemingly-invincible TRT, the Democrats have wasted little time under their new leader, although the next national poll is not expected before 2009.

In March, the party pushed for convening of assembly, which had been on paper for more than two years but never materialised.

Abhisit expects the creation of the assembly, which will draw on people from various professions to help formulate policies, will give the party a more outward perspective. He believes that it will reflect real needs of the voters across the country, which have been curtailed by TRT’s control of the national media.

Along with the assembly, 195 Democrat branches around the country have been told to build up relationships with local people and get them more involved in their activities and services.

The party aims to boost membership from four million to 14 million within two years. After the losses of the past two elections, Democrats know they will never win if they do not extend their voter base beyond their stronghold of 14 southern provinces.

The Democrats also know that time has run out for conflicts within the party, which would only hand the TRT another victory .

Therift between Abhisit and Banyat rift, which arose after their fierce contest for the party leadership in April 2003 that Banyat narrowly won, is believed to have contributed to the Democrats’ big loss in the February 6 election.

The party’s performance under Abhisit has been praised, including the recent censure debate which leading Democrats convinced the public that there was corruption in the purchase of bomb-detecting devices for the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The issue undermined public faith in the TRT government so that Thaksin decided to remove transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit from the post.

However, Abhisit knows it isn’t enough to turn his party to “the people’s choice” - the Democrats need to show sincerity and, with better development platforms, convince voters that they are ready to replace TRT.

The assembly this weekend will show whether his dream is likely to be realised.

--The Nation 2005-10-07

[BambinA]

Khun Abhisit

fake !!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Not fake. Good luck to him. He'll give the Fearless Fake a run for his money.

[buadhai]

Khun Abhisit

fake !!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm curious as to why you say this Bambina. Over the past year or so I've been pretty impressed with Mark. He's a good speaker; thinks quickly on his feet and seems curiously sensible for a politician.

What's fake about him?

[BambinA]

He's a good speaker;

What's fake about him?

yes... he is a good speaker ..just that he can do ..can only speak ...

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Spoken like a true believer in TRT

[BambinA]

Spoken like a true believer in TRT   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

mai chai

[The_Moog]

TRT has enough money put aside to win the next election.

After that, it may factionalize and split, as there is no 'heir apparent' and currently the factions are just a 'marriage of convenience'

Perhaps Abisit may still be around then. Next Democrat leader could be Apirak, or maybe the Democratic Member of Parliament for Sathorn, a sort of smart, young pretty boy who looks about 13 years old.

[penzman]

I was impressed by Abhisit during the scanner/corruption debates. The man spoke on and on without reading notes and did a good job of making Suriya speechless and soil his underwear.

[sriracha john]

TRT has enough money put aside to win the next election.

After that, it may factionalize and split, as there is no 'heir apparent'

I believe he's grooming his replacement already... and he's considerably younger than 13 with the added advantage of the same features and style-sense. Thailand can look forward to a whole new generation of the same:

and currently the factions are just a 'marriage of convenience'

Perhaps Abisit may still be around then. Next Democrat leader could be Apirak, or maybe the Democratic Member of Parliament for Sathorn, a sort of smart, young pretty boy who looks about 13 years old.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Edited October 7, 2005 by sriracha john

[dr_Pat_Pong]

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