Democrats' Error-Prone Road To Defeat

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ANALYSIS

Democrats' error-prone road to defeat

By Atthayut Butrsripoom

The Nation

The Democrat Party only has itself to blame for the election defeat.

While in power and even during the election campaign, the party made several tactical mistakes that weakened its popularity while boosting the support for its rival, the Pheu Thai Party.

The result is not an indication of Pheu Thai being superior or its prime-ministerial candidate Yingluck Shinawatra being better than Democrat leader and incumbent PM Abhisit Vejjajiva. The Democrats suffered the loss despite support of many "sympathisers".

According to many political observers, Abhisit made a mistake by not dissolving the House of Representatives and calling an early general election soon after the unrest and rioting in May last year. Had the House dissolution taken place shortly before the "burning of the city" by rioters after dispersal of the red shirts from Bangkok's Ratchaprasong area, the Democrats' attacks on Pheu Thai and its red-shirt allies would have been more effective. Instead, over the past year after the turmoil, the Democrats' political enemies succeeded in creating a perception that the Democrat-led government was responsible for all 91 deaths during the tumultuous weeks of political turmoil last year. The vote results showed that the Democrat rally at Ratchaprasong was unable to change that perception.

One year after the political turmoil, the ruling Democrats' weaknesses became evident when it came to dealing with the country's problems, such as high inflation, corruption, lack of decisiveness, and favouritism regarding transfers of bureaucrats. These problems appeared to have worsened over the past year.

Many opinion surveys conducted before the July 3 election showed that the Democrats were trailing Pheu Thai and the gap widened as voting day approached.

Seeing their poor performance in the opinion polls, the Democrats decided to call a campaign rally at Ratchaprasong, putting the blame on Yingluck's elusive brother and ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his red-shirt allies for last year's unrest. That move appeared to have backfired as the rally upset many people who wanted to forget the event.

In December 2008, the Democrats came to power amid a severe global economic recession and allegations that its coalition government had been formed with intervention from "power outside the system".

The Democrat-led government was successful in improving economic figures, including the stock-exchange index, export volume, and foreign investment. However, these improvements benefited wealthy people and investors rather than people on the street. On the contrary, ordinary people suffered from the rising prices of consumer goods. Cooking palm oil was so scarce that people had to queue up for rations and some even had to fight for their share - a rare scene for Thailand since the World War II.

The Abhisit administration was slow in tackling that problem as well as natural disasters such as severe flooding in many provinces, and accidents such as the sinking of a sugar barge that polluted part of the Chao Phraya River.

The prime minister set nine points for his Cabinet members to abide by, promising a high standard against corruption. However, it seemed he could enforce the rule only on Cabinet members from his Democrat Party, but not those from other coalition parties, such as Bhum Jai Thai.

Thanks to an inefficient opposition in Pheu Thai - which failed to make its leader, Yongyuth Wichaidit, the opposition leader because he was not a member of Parliament - some Cabinet members managed to remain in office despite allegations of irregularity, mismanagement, and lack of efficiency. With many problems remaining unsolved, came the allegation the Democrats are "only good at talking".

The Democrats in fact tried to win the hearts of lower-income people and the rural grass roots such as farmers but their efforts were not sufficient. Trying to woo grass-roots votes with populist policies, the Democrats played the game in which Pheu Thai - when they were in Thaksin's parties Thai Rak Thai and People Power - had succeeded and won big support from rural voters. The Democrats have been in power for a little over two years, while Thaksin's parties had ruled with their populist policies for seven years.

-- The Nation 2011-07-04

[princejohnjay]

The Nation is in fact the biggest problem in Thailand. All they know how to do is cause obstruction in every success and peace in this country. With articles like this from this sick media, Thailand will remain divided.

[geovalin]

It's right that the Rachaprasong Dems rally had been very aggressive and counter productive.

[charmonman]

The Nation is in fact the biggest problem in Thailand. All they know how to do is cause obstruction in every success and peace in this country. With articles like this from this sick media, Thailand will remain divided.

The real problem is an unwillingness in this country to hear and respect the opinions of others. This is an opinion piece which attempts to explain the failure of the Democrats to do better in this election. What exactly is your complaint?

[whybother]

The Nation is in fact the biggest problem in Thailand. All they know how to do is cause obstruction in every success and peace in this country. With articles like this from this sick media, Thailand will remain divided.

If the Nation is the biggest problem, Thailand doesn't have a worry in the world.

It's a poor quality newspaper, but it's probably not even read by 99% of Thais and probably most of the farangs.

But, what is the problem with this article anyway?

[geriatrickid]

The Nation is in fact the biggest problem in Thailand. All they know how to do is cause obstruction in every success and peace in this country. With articles like this from this sick media, Thailand will remain divided.

Agreed.

[seanocasey]

It is as you know my Face,true I who is faceless will see it as I have seen you before, am I, at 69% it is if my image is viable to all.

Will I not to repeat my wrongs as a faceless citizen,

[SomTumTiger]

<br />

<br />The Nation is in fact the biggest problem in Thailand. All they know how to do is cause obstruction in every success and peace in this country. With articles like this from this sick media, Thailand will remain divided.<br />

<br /><br /><br />Agreed.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

I also agree. Someone is having trouble letting go. For me, I am happy to let PM Yingluck have a chance. Only when she starts mimicking her brother's rampant corruption will you hear me say its time for her to go!

[charmonman]

<br />

<br />The Nation is in fact the biggest problem in Thailand. All they know how to do is cause obstruction in every success and peace in this country. With articles like this from this sick media, Thailand will remain divided.<br />

<br /><br /><br />Agreed.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

I also agree. Someone is having trouble letting go. For me, I am happy to let PM Yingluck have a chance. Only when she starts mimicking her brother's rampant corruption will you hear me say its time for her to go!

I don't get it. This is about the successes and failures of the Abhisit government and why it was unable to defeat the Pheua Thai. It says very little about Yingluck. If people are going to criticize the article, at least do so based on what it is actually about!

[hammered]

The Democrat camapaign was truly Banyatesque in its awfulness.

After ten years of TRT/PP/PTP using modern marketing/PR and soundbiting techniques the democrats still havent even dabbled in it. Even some of the smaller parties gave it a go. The Dems were like rabbits in the headlights. Now they need to rebuild again

The campaign started with Dems and PTP fairly level and form then on PTP just pushed on while the Dems flailed around not knowing what to do and finished with a flurry of hate and fear rhetoric filled rallies of desperation.

Having convinced the establishment to go with the election which the Dems would deliver and having ignored Newin and Banharn about waiting, and having delivered a truly awful uninspiring campaign it may well be the end of the former PM

[BigBikeBKK]

The Nation is in fact the biggest problem in Thailand. All they know how to do is cause obstruction in every success and peace in this country. With articles like this from this sick media, Thailand will remain divided.

A newspaper nobody reads is the biggest problem in Thailand?!

I agree it's a crappy paper, but biggest problem in Thailand?! Get real!

Oh, and do you understand the difference between analysis and news?