Outgoing Thai PM Abhisit Resigns As Party Leader

[webfact]

Outgoing Thai PM resigns as party leader

BANGKOK, July 4, 2011 (AFP) - Outgoing Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva resigned as leader of his party on Monday after heavily losing an election to the opposition allied to fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

"As the Democrat Party leader during the election, we won fewer seats than in the previous election, so I think as a good leader I should take responsibility by resigning," he told a press conference in Bangkok.

"The Democrat Party will hold a general meeting within 90 days to elect a new leader," he added.

The Democrats won just 159 seats out of 500, against the opposition Puea Thai's 265 seats, the Election Commission said.

The results pave the way for Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra to become the first Thai female premier.

Abhisit, who took office in a 2008 parliamentary vote after a court threw out the previous administration, conceded late Sunday, saying: "The outcome is clear -- Puea Thai has won the election and the Democrats are defeated."

His party, with traditional support in Bangkok and the south, has not won a general election in nearly two decades.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-07-04

[webfact]

Abhisit Resigns as Democrat Leader

Abhisit Vejjajiva has just announced his resignation from the post of Democrat Party leader to show responsibility for yesterday's defeat. However, reports are indicating that he might be voted back by the party's executive committee. He refused to comment whether he'll accept the post if voted back in.

Sirichoke Sopa, Abhisit's close aide, had earlier confirmed he would nominate Abhisit back as party leader. He claims 80% of party members still support Abhisit.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-04

[webfact]

Abhisit quits as Democrat party leader

Abhisit Vejjajiva announced his resignation as Democrat Party leader on Monday to take responsible for the results of July 3 election which saw his party lost to Pheu Thai party.

The party won less parliamentary seats compared to the previous election, he said.

He declined to comment possibility that he may be vote back to the position.

-- The Nation 2011-07-04

[Ricardo]

Just what you would hope for & expect, an honest man keeps his pre-election word, and gives his party the opportunity to consider other options. :jap:

[hammered]

The right thing to do. If renominated, he should make it clear he wont accept. The country needs an opposition as well as a government and Abhisit is a divisive character who will distract from the job an opposition has to do.

It is a good early test of whether the democrats can start to move forward. The old way will be to renominate and reelect and stay still. The modern way will be to thank him, accept he has gone and chose a new leader to rebuild the party

[geriatrickid]

And now let's see who claim the knives in the man's back. Which one of the shrinking violet cabinet ministers that left former PM Abhisit to swing in the wind will lay claim to one of the knives so that he may go on to claim leadership of the opposition.

With former PM Abhisit removed, the Democrats will descend into name calling and infighting.

[kurnell]

If nothing else, he looked and sounded good when interviewed by international press. That chap with his own cooking show couldn't even grunt in English

[newermonkey]

All the good honest people in Thailand get rejected. its just the dumb way it has always been.

[MegaRanter]

If nothing else, he looked and sounded good when interviewed by international press. That chap with his own cooking show couldn't even grunt in English

His french was crisp and he told idioms in Swahili.

Now can Mr Cameron grunt in Thai?

[orchidlady]

Even if he resigns as head of Dem Party can't he still be the opposition leader? He is not resigning his post as MP.

[kurnell]

If nothing else, he looked and sounded good when interviewed by international press. That chap with his own cooking show couldn't even grunt in English

His french was crisp and he told idioms in Swahili.

Now can Mr Cameron grunt in Thai?

I thought he was working on Titanic 2?

[afarang]

If nothing else, he looked and sounded good when interviewed by international press. That chap with his own cooking show couldn't even grunt in English

What country do you think this is?Just to inform you, this country is called Thailand .Its National language is Thai. That means there is no demand that to hold political office in this country or any other country where English is not the national language ,, you must be fluent in English.

[webfact]

Abhisit's predecessor Banyat lost an election and he resigned. Abhisit's following the traditional show of responsibility. /via@tulsathit

[kurnell]

If nothing else, he looked and sounded good when interviewed by international press. That chap with his own cooking show couldn't even grunt in English

What country do you think this is?Just to inform you, this country is called Thailand .Its National language is Thai. That means there is no demand that to hold political office in this country or any other country where English is not the national language ,, you must be fluent in English.

That is why I stated 'international press'. Have IQs dropped since the weekend?

[Insight]

The right thing to do. If renominated, he should make it clear he wont accept. The country needs an opposition as well as a government and Abhisit is a divisive character who will distract from the job an opposition has to do.

It is a good early test of whether the democrats can start to move forward. The old way will be to renominate and reelect and stay still. The modern way will be to thank him, accept he has gone and chose a new leader to rebuild the party

Frankly I think it stinks to high heaven that the guy is considered "divisive" considering the lengths taken to avoid bloodshed (city under siege for two months - where else in the world would that be allowed to happen!?!?). He is nothing more than the victim of an extremely well funded hate campaign, and as much as I can sympathise with any decision to stay out of politics for the rest of his life, the decision will send a clear message to anybody who attempts to oppose Thaksin's political machine in the future.

Sad days.

[hammered]

The right thing to do. If renominated, he should make it clear he wont accept. The country needs an opposition as well as a government and Abhisit is a divisive character who will distract from the job an opposition has to do.

It is a good early test of whether the democrats can start to move forward. The old way will be to renominate and reelect and stay still. The modern way will be to thank him, accept he has gone and chose a new leader to rebuild the party

Frankly I think it stinks to high heaven that the guy is considered "divisive" considering the lengths taken to avoid bloodshed (city under siege for two months - where else in the world would that be allowed to happen!?!?). He is nothing more than the victim of an extremely well funded hate campaign, and as much as I can sympathise with any decision to stay out of politics for the rest of his life, the decision will send a clear message to anybody who attempts to oppose Thaksin's political machine in the future.

Sad days.

Maybe true but you cant have a n opposition that has everything it raises ignored by millions who just see him that way. Reality. Modern politics is as much about PR, marketing and sounditing and meme creation as it is about anything related to "substance", maybe more so.

[Parvis]

All the good honest people in Thailand get rejected. its just the dumb way it has always been.

"Honesty and integrity have no sexappeal"

Edited July 4, 2011 by Parvis

[h5kaf]

If nothing else, he looked and sounded good when interviewed by international press. That chap with his own cooking show couldn't even grunt in English

What country do you think this is?Just to inform you, this country is called Thailand .Its National language is Thai. That means there is no demand that to hold political office in this country or any other country where English is not the national language ,, you must be fluent in English.

I don't see what the debate is about. Abhisit was brilliant to the international press and in that sense a great ambassador for Thailand. BUT the majority of the Thai people have spoken and there is to be a new government. However they perform and however they are seen on the world stage, it is the Thai people who need to approve and be satisfied. In most political situations where voting is concerned you tend to get what you deserve.

[PingManDan]

Good riddance, and don't let the door slap you on the a_ss on the way out

[PingManDan]

If nothing else, he looked and sounded good when interviewed by international press. That chap with his own cooking show couldn't even grunt in English

What country do you think this is?Just to inform you, this country is called Thailand .Its National language is Thai. That means there is no demand that to hold political office in this country or any other country where English is not the national language ,, you must be fluent in English.

I don't see what the debate is about. Abhisit was brilliant to the international press and in that sense a great ambassador for Thailand. BUT the majority of the Thai people have spoken and there is to be a new government. However they perform and however they are seen on the world stage, it is the Thai people who need to approve and be satisfied. In most political situations where voting is concerned you tend to get what you deserve.

LOL ya he talked out of one side of his mouth and said something (in reality) different out of the other side.

[Schauerte]

All the good honest people in Thailand get rejected. its just the dumb way it has always been.

Now, that is a statement! Can you tell me who are the honest people? The rich or the poor, any idea?

[jonnog]

"As the Democrat Party leader during the election, we won fewer seats than in the previous election, so I think as a good leader I should take responsibility by resigning."

He never had a mandate! Not one but. Military backing was his only mandate - and Abhisit should never ever have been in power.

Now, at last, justice has been done and PTP/red shirts are back in power: exactly what the majority of the people want. And for those who point to the burning of Bangkok last year: never forget that injustice through non-democratic methods (as we saw in Thailand many years ago with Suchinda, and in many other countries across the world since) can bring a powerful backlash.

[seanocasey]

All the good honest people in Thailand get rejected. its just the dumb way it has always been.

It is the way of all politicians,

Is it not what you to not see as to who governs,ASIA to see whose face it is to see who governs.

It is I master, I hide behind your mask you fail to see.

[HMAN]

What a shame

[BKKBrit]

If there's a replacement, let's hope for Korn. One of the most switched-on finance ministers we're had here for a long time - and pretty good with the foreign investment community, too. Fluent English speaker and one of the more trusted Dems.

[Roachiebkk]

If nothing else, he looked and sounded good when interviewed by international press. That chap with his own cooking show couldn't even grunt in English

What country do you think this is?Just to inform you, this country is called Thailand .Its National language is Thai. That means there is no demand that to hold political office in this country or any other country where English is not the national language ,, you must be fluent in English.

Leading a country does mean dealing on the international stage. Nobody is denying the fact that this is Thailand and who gives a fat rats clack about other countries but it is a job that requires some language skills. Abhisit certainly has them as does Mr Texas T, who must be packing up all his suitcases of cash to come back and distribute it to the masses.

[lapoon]

Posted 20 minutes ago

kurnell, on 33 minutes ago, said:

If nothing else, he looked and sounded good when interviewed by international press. That chap with his own cooking show couldn't even grunt in English

His french was crisp and he told idioms in Swahili.

Now can Mr Cameron grunt in Thai? Just a pity he couldn't have talk to some Thai's

[lovinglife]

Great opportunity for Yingluck to show her statesmanship, appoint Abhisit to represent Thailand on the Foreign stage in some way, an honest man with integrity and wanting only the best for his country.

[webfact]

Outgoing PM Abhisit calls it quits after election defeat

BANGKOK, July 4 - Outgoing prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has announced his resignation as Democrat Party leader after his party's loss to the opposition Pheu Thai in Sunday's election, with the number of seats lower than in the previous election in 2007.

The Oxford-educated prime minister made the announcement at the party’s headquarters in Bangkok Monday morning, saying he must show responsibility by stepping down to pave the way for the party to hold a meeting and select a new leader and new party executives within 90 days.

"As the poll results show the party receiving fewer seats than in the 2007 poll, as a good leader, I must take responsibility. I therefore have decided to resign from the party leadership," he told a news conference.

He thanked party members, officials and his supporters for their emotional support for him. The Democrat party will review the party’s policies and he will continue his duties as an MP and a member of the Democrat Party.

Unofficial results of the July 3 election showed Pheu Thai party was set to win 265 seats of 500 parliament seats. The Democrats were on course to receive 159 seats. Voter turnout is 74 per cent. Meanwhile, the Election Commission will announce the unofficial complete result again later today.

After learning the unofficial results indicated that the Pheu Thai party had a clear majority in Parliament on Sunday, Mr Abhisit conceded defeat and congratulated the Pheu Thai party for having the opportunity to lead the next government. He also congratulated top Pheu Thai party list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra who will become Thailand's first female Thai prime minister. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-04

[lovinglife]

If there's a replacement, let's hope for Korn. One of the most switched-on finance ministers we're had here for a long time - and pretty good with the foreign investment community, too. Fluent English speaker and one of the more trusted Dems.

Agree, but would be surprised if he wants it, enjoys his personal life and freedom too much I think to get involved at this stage.