Democrat Kalaya Not After Party Position

Kalaya not after party position

By The Nation on Sunday

Democrat Party MP-elect Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich said yesterday she was ready to work for the party even if she holds no position.

Kalaya, a member of the Democrat Party Advisory board, was responding to remarks by the party's Krabi MP Pichet Panwichartkul that he supported her for the post of secretary-general. She said the new leader would propose three candidates and party members would vote for the most suitable person.

Caretaker Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Democrat Party members are allowed to freely express their opinion on the appointment of the party's new secretary-general. He denied reports of an internal struggle in the party over its executive board, saying the party always adhered to democratic principles by electing the party executives. He said previous elections of executive boards showed heavy competition among candidates. He said the public should not mistake competition for conflicts.

The party's Nakhon Si Thammarat MP Thepthai Senpong disagreed that the new secretary-general must be an MP from one of the southern provinces. He said the Democrat Party had grown to become a political institution and it was not a local or regional party or a party that belonged to any individual.

-- The Nation 2011-07-17