Tulsi joins the party of Common Sense

[webfact]

Abhisit re-elected as Democrat leader

By The Nation

The Democrat Party Saturday re-elected Abhisit Vejjajiva as its leader and Chalermchai Sri-on as secretary-general.

The party held an extraordinary assembly at the Miracle Grand Hotel at 8:30 am to elect a new party executive board. The previous board's term ended after Abhisit stepped down as the party leader to take responsibility for the party's election defeat.

Over 400 party members, including MPs and party branches' leaders, attended the assembly and 330 of them are eligible to cast votes to elect the new executive board.

Marut Bunnag, a party advisor, nominated Abhisit as a candidate for the post of party leader. No other party member was nominated to contest against Abhisit for the party's leadership.

Abhisit was supported by 96.038 per cent from 330 party voters.

After he was elected, Abhisit proposed a new board for the party's voters to approve.

He nominated six candidates for the positions of deputy leaders - Apirak Kosayothin, Korn Chatikavanit, Juti Krairirk, Chamni Sakdiseth, Thira Salakphet, and Withoon Nambutr.

But Withoon, Korn and Thira pulled out from the contest and the party's voters endorsed the three others as deputy leaders.

Abhisit also nominated Chalermchai Sri-on and Chaiwut Bhannawat as new secretary-general but Chaiwut pulled out from the contest.

The majority of the party's voters endorsed Chalermchai's nomination.

-- The Nation 2011-08-06

[webfact]

Abhisit Voted Back as Democrat Party Leader

During this morning's national assembly of the Democrat Party, members voted Abhisit Vejjajiva back as party leader. Abhisit had resigned from the post to express responsibility for failing to lead the party to victory in the last election. Chalermchai Sri-Orn has been selected as party secretary-general.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-06

[hammered]

Oh well. Guess its another thumping at the next election. Towards the end of next year when the 111 are unfettered is the gossip. Shame the Dems just carry on the same regardless. Wonder how many more electoral hidings it will take before they learn

Edited August 6, 2011 by hammered

[webfact]

Outgoing Thai PM re-elected opposition leader

BANGKOK, August 6, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's outgoing prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was re-elected on Saturday as leader of the now-opposition Democrat Party, despite fronting their crushing defeat in July's general election.

A day after his rival Yingluck Shinawatra of the Puea Thai party won parliamentary approval to become the new Thai premier, the pro-establishment Democrats re-selected Abhisit to lead them after he ran unopposed for the job.

"He's the most suitable person," veteran party member Marut Bunnag told a party meeting in Bangkok, observed by AFP, before Abhisit won 96 percent of the votes.

Abhisit, who became prime minister in December 2008, had resigned last month as Democrat leader after his party clinched just 159 seats against Puea Thai's 265 in the July 3 election. He first became party leader in 2005.

New premier Yingluck is due to receive royal endorsement to formalise her position on Monday afternoon, the house speaker said Saturday.

The sister of fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by a military coup in 2006, she faces the tough challenge of bringing unity to the politically volatile kingdom.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-08-06

[catmac]

As Hammered said, the Dems obviously have a death wish!

A pity the Party didn't heed their continuing drubbing at tha hands of the Thai electorate (when did they last WIN an election?), and start a process of rethinking their policies and personalities (Abhisit may be the dream-boy of the Dem-loving ex-pats on TV, but to the great mass of the rural Thais he is seen as a total tosser!) to make themslves acceptable to the Thai people as a whole, and not just in their strongholds - though I can see even Bangkok falling from their grasp in view of the very narrow margins they achieved in many constituencies.

It was often said that Mrs Thatcher's greatest achievement was to make the Labour Party electable, a pity the Dems don't seem to be able to learn that lesson.

[webfact]

Pheu Thai congratulated Abhisit for being voted Democrat Leader again

BANGKOK, 6 August 2011 (NNT)-Pheu Thai Spokesperson Mr. Prompong Nopparit has congratulated Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva for having been voted the leader of the Democrat for the second term while welcoming anybody to put the government under the microscope should they have any suspicions.

The Spokesperson further stated that while the Democrat has undergone the restructuring, he wished that the other opposition parties would fulfill their roles creatively too. According to him, the move to welcome any criticisms and investigations into the morality of the government would essentially benefit the Thai people and promote democracy.

-- NNT 2011-08-06

[hammered]

Pheu Thai congratulated Abhisit for being voted Democrat Leader again

BANGKOK, 6 August 2011 (NNT)-Pheu Thai Spokesperson Mr. Prompong Nopparit has congratulated Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva for having been voted the leader of the Democrat for the second term while welcoming anybody to put the government under the microscope should they have any suspicions.

The Spokesperson further stated that while the Democrat has undergone the restructuring, he wished that the other opposition parties would fulfill their roles creatively too. According to him, the move to welcome any criticisms and investigations into the morality of the government would essentially benefit the Thai people and promote democracy.

-- NNT 2011-08-06

PTP will hardly be able to control their glee at this. A few weeks ago even Abhisit's cousin was cracking up over it. Its odd that both the main government and opposition parties would find common reason to party after an election but this night after this election will be one of them.

[webfact]

Abhisit reelected as leader of Democrat Party

BANGKOK, Aug 6 -- Outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was reelected as leader of the Democrat Party, the main opposition party, at a special session of the party's General Assembly on Saturday morning.

At the party's General Assembly held at the Miracle Grand Hotel to elect a new party leader and executive board, Marut Bunnag, a party advisor, had nominated Mr Abhisit as party leader, with no one else nominated as a candidate to contest for the leadership.

Mr Abhisit was supported, in secret ballot voting, by 96.03 per cent from 330 party voters.

Mr Abhisit then nominated six candidates for three deputy party leaders - Apirak Kosayodhin, Chuti Krairiksh, Chamni Sakdiset, Witoon Nambutr, Korn Chatikavanij and Teera Slukpetch.

However, Mr Witoon, Mr Korn, and Mr Teera withdrew from the deputy party leader posts so party voters endorsed Apirak, Chuti and Chamni as deputy party leaders.

Then Mr Abhisit nominated Chalermchai Sri-on and Chaiwuti Bannawat for the party's secretary-general but Chaiwuti declined his candidacy, so the meeting voted to endorse Chalermchai as the party’s secretary-general, replacing Suthep Thaugsuban.

The previous board's term ended after Mr Abhisit stepped down as party leader to take responsibility for the party's heavy election defeat.

Mr Abhisit on July 4 announced his resignation as leader of the Democrat Party after his party's loss to the Pheu Thai Party in the July 3rd general election, with the number of seats won lower than in the previous election in 2007.

The Democrats won just 159 seats out of 500, as opposed to Pheu Thai's 265 seats garnered. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-08-06

[webfact]

Abhisit confident in the ability of the Democrat´s new Secretary General

BANGKOK, 6 July 2011 (NNT)-Democrat Leader Mr Abhisit Vejjajiva is confident in the ability of the new Secretary General to guide all party members in the same direction. Mr. Chalermchai Sri-on has rececently received the majority votes in his party to replace Mr. Suthep Thuagsuban as the new Democrat Secretary General.

Mr. Abhisit said he had nominated Mr. Chalermchai for his efforts during the election campaign in the Central region, where political competition was fierce. The Democrat Leader added further that even though 30 % of the party voted against Mr. Chalermchai, it was common for anyone to doubt his capacity given that the role requires an individual with considerable amounts of experience.

Mr. Abhisit said; however, that this would not cause any rifts among party members. Meanwhile, he cited his wish to set up a shadow cabinet to track the new administration's performance because the role of the Opposition should not only be confined to debating in Parliament.

-- NNT 2011-08-06

[jaidam]

It does seems a strange choice on the surface to re-elect Abhisit. After all, Abhisit proved that acting in a fair, measured way whilst putting the country first was very unpopular to certain segments of the Thai population.

Would the democrat party not be better off looking for a thuggish character to intimidate the electorate, burn Bangkok, incite riots, and brainwash large swathes of the uneducated that the benefits to one person outweigh any need for national development? A sort of Jatupon pre drinking the red Kool-aid.

Its possible that the dems are hoping that after another 4 year Thaksin reign (assuming there will be any more elections and not just succession of power to Oak or Chinchilla etc etc) people will have woken up enough to actually vote in a way that takes more in consideration than promises to be rich in 6 months, and a free ipad.

I suppose one real benefit of retaining Abhisit as party leader, is that the ongoing attempt to re-write recent history will be much more difficult. By that I mean if Abhisit retired from politics it would be too easy for PTP to refer or insinuate to "Abhisits black shirt mercenaries that blighted the peaceful red protests" or "Abhisits clevely aquired and deployed lookalike fake red leaders that somehow fooled the peaceful reds and called for a million liters of petrol to incinerate Bangkok, certain hospitals and convention centers". And just look at him scurry away and hide. But, no. Abhisit has shown he is not a coward, unlike the majority of his adversaries.

[Ricardo]

Hope that Abhisit is now able to use the election-result to force-through modernisation of his party & its policies, against the old-timers who thought he was already not listening enough to them, and prepare for the possible 2012 snap-election, once the banned-111 are back in circulation.

Forming a shadow-Cabinet is also an interesting move, had PTP done this previously then Ms Yingluck might not currently be needing more time, to select her own Cabinet now she has been elected. An effective Opposition is an important part of a functioning democracy, whoever's in-power, IMO.

[GazR]

Hope that Abhisit is now able to use the election-result to force-through modernisation of his party & its policies, against the old-timers who thought he was already not listening enough to them, and prepare for the possible 2012 snap-election, once the banned-111 are back in circulation.

Forming a shadow-Cabinet is also an interesting move, had PTP done this previously then Ms Yingluck might not currently be needing more time, to select her own Cabinet now she has been elected. An effective Opposition is an important part of a functioning democracy, whoever's in-power, IMO.

Interesting post - however I have to point out that Abhisit initiated the shadow-government concept (in Thailand) several years ago when he took over as Leader of the Opposition from the old buffer whose name I forget.

BTW I wonder why Korn turned down a Deputy Leader nomination.

Edited August 6, 2011 by GazR

[ballpoint]

I see this as a cunning ploy. Abhisit will lead the debate in parliament, necessitating the need for a permanent squeegee hand at Dear Sister's side to mop up the tears. Meanwhile, Suthep will sit in the background and mastermind a series of grenade attacks and burnings of prominent Bangkok spots, such as Imperial World Lard Prao and branches of SC Asset. Three months before the next election Abhisit will step aside and be replaced by Suthep's sister. (And if Suthep doesn't have a sister he'll adopt a daughter). She'll make up a bunch of unattainable policies and downright lies and pay people to disrupt PTP meetings, and even more people to vote for her. A proven election winning tactic. After all, PTP have already proven you can fool 48% of the people all the time, the Democrats can work on fooling the other 52% of them.

[jayboy]

It was often said that Mrs Thatcher's greatest achievement was to make the Labour Party electable, a pity the Dems don't seem to be able to learn that lesson.

Said by those who are either having a laugh or are exceptionally unperceptive.It was in fact Mrs Thatcher that made Labour unelectable for a long period of time, aided by anachronisms on the Labour side like Michael Foot (though a scholarly and decent man) and second rate windbags like Kinnock.The person who made Labour electable again was Tony Blair.

Back to Thailand, I agree the Democrats need to find someone of exceptional quality who must (a) keep the Democrat heartland solid ( be prepared to take on the puffed up and corrupt military establishment © persuade ordinary Thais that the Democrat Party is not a tool of an unelected establishment.Abhisit succeded on (a) but failed every other measure.

Back to the Thatcher example I don't think it matters if voters don't much care for a leader personally.Vigour, competence and a sense of what must be done are much more important.Same considerations apply in Thailand

[DP25]

though I can see even Bangkok falling from their grasp in view of the very narrow margins they achieved in many constituencies.

I can see even more falling from PTP's grasp given the number of seats they "won" with 30% of the vote. If the second and third place parties aren't taking votes from each other they destroy the PTP majority.

[h90]

As Hammered said, the Dems obviously have a death wish!

A pity the Party didn't heed their continuing drubbing at tha hands of the Thai electorate (when did they last WIN an election?), and start a process of rethinking their policies and personalities (Abhisit may be the dream-boy of the Dem-loving ex-pats on TV, but to the great mass of the rural Thais he is seen as a total tosser!) to make themslves acceptable to the Thai people as a whole, and not just in their strongholds - though I can see even Bangkok falling from their grasp in view of the very narrow margins they achieved in many constituencies.

It was often said that Mrs Thatcher's greatest achievement was to make the Labour Party electable, a pity the Dems don't seem to be able to learn that lesson.

Even someone who loves the Democrats and/or Abhisit, must see that he is the wrong person on the wrong place (to say it friendly. Why not put someone in who has an idea about that job?

[GazR]

It was often said that Mrs Thatcher's greatest achievement was to make the Labour Party electable, a pity the Dems don't seem to be able to learn that lesson.

Said by those who are either having a laugh or are exceptionally unperceptive.It was in fact Mrs Thatcher that made Labour unelectable for a long period of time, aided by anachronisms on the Labour side like Michael Foot (though a scholarly and decent man) and second rate windbags like Kinnock.The person who made Labour electable again was Tony Blair.

Back to Thailand, I agree the Democrats need to find someone of exceptional quality who must (a) keep the Democrat heartland solid ( be prepared to take on the puffed up and corrupt military establishment © persuade ordinary Thais that the Democrat Party is not a tool of an unelected establishment.Abhisit succeded on (a) but failed every other measure.

Back to the Thatcher example I don't think it matters if voters don't much care for a leader personally.Vigour, competence and a sense of what must be done are much more important.Same considerations apply in Thailand

What !! No Charisma ??