Former Democrat Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva Prioritizes Unity over Leadership Discussions
Former Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva refrained from talking about the possibility of his return as party leader during an interview at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus. Instead, he emphasized the importance of “unity” within the Democrat Party as it approaches the selection of new executives.
Jurin Laksanawisit, the existing Democrat party leader, announced his intention to step down after the party secured fewer House seats than anticipated in the May 14 election. His resignation will dissolve the current board, and with the Election Commission endorsing all MPs, the process of choosing a new leader to replace Jurin is expected to begin soon.
Although some reports suggested that Abhisit, who resigned after the 2019 general election, might be open to the idea of returning as the leader, he remained tight-lipped during the interview. Instead, he focused on the challenges that lie ahead for the Democrats. According to Abhisit, the party needs a strong and united foundation, unwavering ideology, a solid political platform, and restored public confidence.
The former leader urged party MPs and acting executive board members to foster unity and set the party’s direction, while also appealing to those involved in leadership selection process to avoid discussing potential candidates. “I think we should step back from talking about individuals and the leadership contest,” Abhisit said. “What the party needs is unity and clear directions.”
Abhisit dismissed reports about Songkhla’s Democrat MP Det-it Khaothong potentially being nominated as a secondary issue. He insisted that unity should be the primary focus for the party at this time.
Meanwhile, Jurin Laksanawisit expressed his confidence on Saturday that the leadership contest would proceed without any conflicts. He assured that all members would accept the final result, adding that the party would hold a special meeting on July 9 to elect a new leader and executives. “I can’t say who it will be. That will be decided by the party,” he stated. “It’s a democratic process, and the party has long adopted this practice.”
Jurin also mentioned that the party had not yet discussed who they would endorse as the country’s next Prime Minister, suggesting that their current focus is on the internal leadership selection process and the search for unity.
Be First to Comment