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[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Situation within Democrat Party far from normal
The Nation

While many say Thailand's oldest party needs to reform, few know how

BANGKOK: -- A question as tough as the one asking how Thailand can solve its political crisis has to do with the Democrat Party's future. How should the country's oldest political party reform itself? This is an issue that is easy to raise - with Alongkorn Polabutra being the latest critical voice - but extremely difficult to tackle. If we look at some academics' thoughts on the Democrats and at the party's arch-enemies, we will know why.

Academics always criticise the Democrat Party leadership structure. One of the latest criticisms points out that the party neither belongs to "capitalists" or to the people. It's just home to senior executives or veterans who have been there for a long time - perhaps too long, the critics say. What does that criticism allude to, actually? That the party should make up its mind between representing capitalist interests or people at grass-roots? There's nothing wrong with asking the Democrats to make a decision on such things and clarify their position in the process, but the point is, does it really matter?

Regarding the Democrat Party being dominated by an old guard, let's check out its arch-rival: Pheu Thai is controlled by just one man. In fact, every party that enjoyed the strongest support in Thailand's biggest electoral region - the Northeast - before Pheu Thai, had a more "concentrated", serve-till-I-die style of leadership than the Democrats do.

It can be said that the oldest party has the least attachment to "founders" or influential "clans", compared with other parties. Bhichai Rattakul, Chuan Leekpai, Banyat Bantadtan and Abhisit Vejjajiva cannot be described as political allies who ganged up to keep the party under one group's control. Leadership changes at the Democrat Party often meant tough competition. The same cannot be said for the other parties dominated by veterans such as Banharn Silapa-archa, Chavalit Yongchaiyuth or the late Samak Sundaravej. Those parties depend more on "individuals". The once-promising Palang Dharma wilted after Chamlong Srimuang abandoned it. And who can imagine Pheu Thai continuing to be a united, dominant force without Thaksin Shinawatra?

Alongkorn suggests the Democrats need to change their management, culture and personnel. He did not provide details or elaborate how. What he did not sufficiently mention is the fact that the Democrats are always second-best because they lose in the Northeast every time, and the Northeast is a region always dominated by a party less progressive on leadership "culture" or management style.

This is not to say that the Democrats need no changes. If winning an election is of absolute importance, the situation cries out for major reform, but the question "How?" is a tough nut to crack. Pheu Thai thrives on populist policies, as they appeal to the poorer electorate. The Democrats have tried some populist programmes of their own, but the party looked anything but natural with them.

On Alongkorn's "personnel" revamp, perhaps he should point out who are the "better" personnel at the Pheu Thai Party. On his ambiguous proposal that the party's "structure" should be changed, again, he should demonstrate how Pheu Thai has a better structure.

All the questions lead us back to the Northeast. To win the hearts of the poor may be easy for Pheu Thai, but it's questionable Alongkorn's apparently idealistic proposals would work in the Northeast for the Democrats. Voters in the Northeast do not care if a party is well structured or poorly organised and controlled by people outside the executive board. "Personnel" and "culture" don't matter much to them, either. The poor think differently, or at least they do not see the Democrats' problems the way the others seem them.

What should the Democrats do then? Of course, they need to change. There is much more to the entire answer, but the simple one ends here.


-- The Nation 2013-04-29

[bigbamboo]

If the Democrats want to know how to make a fresh start in the political party stakes they could do a lot worse than ask the advice of their friendly local PTP aka PPP aka TRT activists. They've been doing it for years.

[allalong]

If the Democrats want to know how to make a fresh start in the political party stakes they could do a lot worse than ask the advice of their friendly local PTP aka PPP aka TRT activists. They've been doing it for years.

I think they dont need to go the lying.bribery and intimidation route.Then again maybe they do.its Thailand

Sent from my GT-S7500L using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Locationthailand]

It's not about reforming the party, it's about reforming politics and politicians. They all suck. Until someone has the goolies to stand up and start cracking heads, disposing of the rotten police and replacing them with ones who WILL uphold law and order, prosecuting and jailing corrupt 'officials' including politicians, and then starting to bring the country into line with the assistance of army if necessary, nothing will change, least of all a reform of old habits. Wake up Thailand...

[whybother]

It's not about reforming the party, it's about reforming politics and politicians. They all suck. Until someone has the goolies to stand up and start cracking heads, disposing of the rotten police and replacing them with ones who WILL uphold law and order, prosecuting and jailing corrupt 'officials' including politicians, and then starting to bring the country into line with the assistance of army if necessary, nothing will change, least of all a reform of old habits. Wake up Thailand...

"with the assistance of the army"

Is that assistance in the corruption or assistance in the jailing?

[chainarong]

I think the way to reform lies somewhere with what LocationThailand has Posted/pointed out, cutting out corruption and becoming the peoples party, cleaning up the heads of departments ,(Generals out) bringing back some brilliant Expat Thai to run departments with fresh international idea's, improving the lot of the people , many are hurting, improve across the board all departments, that's a start Mr Chuan , call if you need more.

[virtualtraveller]

Voters in the Northeast do not care if a party is well structured or poorly organised and controlled by people outside the executive board. "Personnel" and "culture" don't matter much to them, either. The poor think differently, or at least they do not see the Democrats' problems the way the others seem them.

This says it all really. It's the voter mentality that needs reform. Dems are doing fine they just need to outlive the current era of populism and it will die, once Thaksin has been removed permanently.

[LomSak27]

think they dont need to go the lying.bribery and intimidation route.Then again maybe they do.its Thailand

One of the problems here in the magic Kingdom outsiders make an assumption of "if those guys are bad then these guys must be good"

Nothing could be farther from the truth. You could just as well state that since the Democratic party is older than the PTP, the PTP learned there "lying, bribery and intimadation" from the democrats. There are no guys in white hats in this story.And when you understand that, you'll understand a lot more of what goes on.

[OzMick]

Few, if any, imagine that the Democrats are snowy white. But at least they are not a personality cult jumping to the commands of a career criminal.

The most outstanding characteristic of Thaksin is his greed, something his sycophants aspire to, and the sharing of his stolen (and being stolen) wealth is what tethers them together.

[NCFC]

Democrats are made up from the 'establishment'. The bureaucrats are hardly likely to reform themselves as they are doing very nicely thank you from every day corruption.

And appealing to ordinary north-eastern folk? You have got to be kidding.... amart appealing to the great unwashed? Will never happen in a thousand years.