Thai Democrats miss an opportunity to introduce reforms

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BURNING ISSUE
Democrats miss an opportunity to introduce reforms
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A MEETING of Democrat Party executives held to debate reforms proposed by deputy party leader Alongkorn Ponlaboot was preceded by a big and dramatic overture, which saw Alongkorn become the first to detect his party's flaws and to concede a need to address its series of defeats in past polls.

He said it was futile to blame the election losses on vote-buying, because there were other factors involved.

The Democrats have been known for being good at talking and playing political games but lacking in tangible achievements. They are haunted by the criticism of being "all talk, no action".

In terms of popularity, they have fallen way behind their chief rival, whether that party has been under the banner of Thai Rak Thai, People Power or Pheu Thai.

The Democrats act, however, as if they are not aware of their mistakes. As they are presently political underdogs, they have opted to rely on political games rather than a civilised fight.

They have been projecting an inappropriate image inside and outside of Parliament.

It is high time for them to reflect on past mistakes. Presently, the government has no achievements to boast about, but the main opposition party cannot undermine the coalition.

The opposition should think hard about why it has failed to capitalise on the administration's blunders, such as rising prices, fuel costs, runaway petrol prices and a deficit generated by the rice-pledging scheme.

Other government shortcomings include the seemingly substandard performance of the prime minister and the first-car scheme, which failed to enlist the intended number of buyers.

The phenomenon of poor government and unpopular opposition seems to reflect the people's despair.

The people are apparently losing hope in the Democrats. Although they are disappointed in the government, they appear to prefer the ruling party to the opposition.

The Democrats have no one but themselves to blame for failing to offer a viable alternative to the people.

Alongkorn has stepped forward to advance reform plans for his party. He has even threatened to quit the party if the reform process fails to take off.

In the end, Democrat executives have not taken a bold and decisive step toward reform. They can only agree on minimal change, and as a result are failing to decentralise the party.

The Democrat executive board remains under the control of party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. A handful of key figures continue to take charge of the party's Advisory Council.

The party leader has ended up being given more power to name his deputies.

The executive board adjourned its meeting as per usual, with no big changes on the horizon.

Alongkorn had no choice but to accept the party's decision to keep the status quo.

The dawn of a Democrat transformation remains a far-fetched dream.


-- The Nation 2013-10-10

[Valentine]

A huge blunder on their part. They need a radical overhaul if they are truly sincere about doing good for the country otherwise they will continue to be seen as a party of dinosaurs who have no willingness to evolve & modernize. Their PR is woeful, they cannot even make basic changes to their structure & now look like losing one of their more progressive members in Alongkorn.

[ramrod711]

I've said it before, even disaffected PTP voters will not vote for Abhisit, he should step down. I don't blame him for 2010, except to say he should have been more effective in breaking up the demonstration earlier, before it became a riot. The fact remains that many people are not happy with PTP but don't see an alternative.

[jpeg]

I've said it before, even disaffected PTP voters will not vote for Abhisit, he should step down. I don't blame him for 2010, except to say he should have been more effective in breaking up the demonstration earlier, before it became a riot. The fact remains that many people are not happy with PTP but don't see an alternative.

Agreed, he talks a nice talk but has so much baggage now, perceived or otherwise, and comes over as effete.

And who could forget the embarrassment of him blushing and blinking like a schoolboy when attempting to take Samak to task who was simply sitting making origami birds with an equally sneering Snoh

[Siripon]

If Apisit loses the next election it will be three in a row and it will be time for him to go for sure. Personally I think he should resign now and let Dr Surin, Korn and Apirak battle it out for leadership. After that the party must reform and decentralize authority within the party.

[Thai at Heart]

If Apisit loses the next election it will be three in a row and it will be time for him to go for sure. Personally I think he should resign now and let Dr Surin, Korn and Apirak battle it out for leadership. After that the party must reform and decentralize authority within the party.

If I were them, I would wait for abhisit to be finished politically absolutely completely

[ianf]

Abhisit has been out manipulated by the Montenegro citizen. If you repeat a lie often enough people will believe in the end, but if you repeat the same lies to people with little understanding of what lies behind what they hear, then it's a recipe for disaster. Abhisit is a good and intelligent man but his adversary is a sociopath and these types are known to be past masters at controlling the way people think. Indeed Mr Montenegro seem to totally understand the mass psychology needed to turn good people against a good man and to accept an unbelievably bad & dishonest man who is corrupt to the core in his place. The events of the past decade have been so transparent. It's the way of the world and soon, (not soon enough I guess) people (other than the diehard fanatics) will turn away from him. Sadly, by then it'll be too late.

[fab4]

If Apisit loses the next election it will be three in a row and it will be time for him to go for sure. Personally I think he should resign now and let Dr Surin, Korn and Apirak battle it out for leadership. After that the party must reform and decentralize authority within the party.

If I were them, I would wait for abhisit to be finished politically absolutely completely

To be perfectly honest the Democrat Party's decision to keep the status quo has ended his political life now, no matter what extra powers he has been granted

[gemini81]

Well, at least PTP didn't miss an opportunity to introduce retards.

[indyuk]

I think that the Democrats should reform their party. Relying on the Thai Army's

next coup to bring about a Democratic Government won't work again.