Dems remain split over Thai election boycott; bigwigs to decide Saturday

[webfact]

Dems remain split over election boycott; bigwigs to decide Saturday
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 18 - Thailand's main opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday that the party remain undecided whether to field candidates in the Feb 2 general election or not but the party's newly-elected executive board will conclude the matter this Saturday.

The newly-reelected party leader said there are differing views on the issue so that party branches nationwide will garner opinions before the meeting of the executive board scheduled for this Saturday to make a conclusion.

No matter whatever the outcome, it will impact the party, Mr Abhisit said. It will be a painful decision either way. But if that could move the country towards a better future, the Democrats are willing to do so.

The tough challenge facing the country is national reform in accord with democracy without violence, he said.

Mr Abhisit insisted that the party had nothing to do with the People's Democratic Reform Committee as the anti-government movement has pursued its own agenda independently even though some of the masses continue their support or supported the Democrat party in the past.

The Democrat party has not won elections in decades.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the lower house of Parliament last week in an attempt to defuse the current political crisis caused by the PDRC-led anti-government protesters.

The political turmoil has seen hundreds of thousands of protesters marching in the streets to make demands, and temporarily occupy the government complex and some key ministries. They demanded the ouster of the caretaker premier and wanted to establish an unelected people's council to rid the country of what they called 'Thaksin regime' and corruption. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-18

[bkkfaranguy]

Wasn't Abiset marching with them at the beginning of the protest? Don't buy that one at all, that they have seperated from the PDRC, Suthep is the best propaganda machine the Dems have!

Edited December 18, 2013 by bkkfaranguy

[ChrisY1]

"The Democrat party has not won elections in decades."

They still have a long way to go.....even after "decades"

[webfact]

'Abhisit' undecided about running in general elections

BANGKOK, 18 December 2013 (NNT) — Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva revealed that he would hold a meeting of the managing body of the party to decide the party’s participation in the next general elections held on February 2.

Mr. Abhisit stated that he will hold a party meeting on December 21 in order to decide the appropriate candidates to run for the next general elections - or whether the party would even participate in the election.

The Democrat Party leader pointed out that going through with the election, or refusing to do so, would hurt the party either way - adding that no matter the consequence, the party would do what is best for the country.

When asked about his possible discussion with the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) before making the decision, Mr. Abhisit’s response was the PDRC is its own body and is not related to the Democrat Party.


-- NNT 2013-12-18

[LadPhrao1]

The Democrat Party and the PDRC separate? haha, one lies and the other swears to it Suthep/Abhisit joined at the hip until it's 'inconvenient'. May they share the same jail cell....

[Baerboxer]

The Democrat Party and the PDRC separate? haha, one lies and the other swears to it Suthep/Abhisit joined at the hip until it's 'inconvenient'. May they share the same jail cell....

If they do, let's hope the Shin clan godfather is in the next one!

[Ulic]

Big wigs? You mean Big Wig, Suthep will decide and let the rest of the council know if they will boycott or not.

[Just1Voice]

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Lose-lose proposition either way..

Perhaps not such a good time to be a Dem.

[Carrerakiss]

I feel the Dem leadership has miscalculated badly over Sutheps movement. They should either have stayed in Parliament, or gone rabid on the streets with Suthep. As it is, they are in no mans land, not campaigning within the existing political system, nor acting as revolutionaries on the streets. Not much of an "opposition" are they?

[tx22cb]

If the Dems boycott the 2/2 elections, then there is very difference between PDRC and Dems.

In which case, Suthep will have shown that he is the natural leader of the Dems too, and Suthep should rightfully assume leadership of the merged PDRC/Dems group sitting on the sidelines.

A stream of ex-Dems MPs have graced the PDRC stages and made speeches - although not as official Dem MPs but as "ordinary citizens who merely happened to have been Dem MPs until a few weeks ago".

Abhisit (whom I love dearly) has shown weak leadership. He has vacillated and has delayed the decision to contest/not contest the elections by 3 more days, to see how many people join the scheduled PDRC demonstrations over the next few days.

Incidentally, this number will be at least 5 million, because Suthep has already said so.

[EricBerg]

"The Democrat Party leader pointed out that going through with the election, or refusing to do so, would hurt the party either way - adding that no matter the consequence, the party would do what is best for the country."

..."Mr. Abhisit’s response was the PDRC is its own body and is not related to the Democrat Party."

No matter the consequence, it's best for the country... even when having a civil war?

The democrats and the PDRC are not related. Similar to Yingluck not being related to the missunderstood fugitive? You joking?

Confusion will be his epitaph. (King Crimson song)

Edited December 18, 2013 by EricBerg

[Curt1591]

…. the PDRC is its own body and is not related to the Democrat Party.

Kinda like "mysterious dark figures" ….

[Siripon]

It's a true dilemma for the Democrats.

The PDRC will boycott the election until reforms are in place so the Democrats will lose millions of votes if they run in February.

If they boycott they will be derided as afraid to run.

I won't be surprised if they decide not to run and urge voters to vote no.

11 or 12 million no votes will render the election results useless.

[LadPhrao1]

The Democrat Party and the PDRC separate? haha, one lies and the other swears to it Suthep/Abhisit joined at the hip until it's 'inconvenient'. May they share the same jail cell....

If they do, let's hope the Shin clan godfather is in the next one!

Not my point of view. After watching the utter stupidity of the PDRC and for all practical purposes a small group of Thais trying to execute a coup from the street because they cannot get into power in a legitimate way I would be happy to see Thaksin return to lead Thailand and put these clowns to work cleaning the Bangkok streets and fixing the sidewalks before returning to their re-education classes at night.

Long live the Shinawatras because they're obviously the only ones with the brains and class to lead the country. Never bought the basic premise of their guilt in the first place except as a pretext to illegally unseat them. And kudos to the military for staying in the barracks where they belong.

Any day somebody stops Suthep et al from beating their dead horse is a good day. And a good day for Thailand and it's economy, even if I do enjoy being able to walk the uncrowded streets of Sukhumvit and elsewhere (at high season).