Thailand’s oldest political party yesterday voted to reinstate as its leader former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who led the country during a bloody military crackdown on “Red Shirts” protesters.
Abhisit, who led Thailand from 2008 to 2011 during the global financial crisis, gained early popularity for his eloquent debating style. However, his leadership of the Democrat Party was marred by the military crackdown on “Red Shirts” protesters in 2010 that killed more than 90 people and left more than 2,000 wounded.
Abhisit was branded by rivals as “the PM with blood on his hands” and his political career faltered in the following years amid internal party divisions, leading him to resign as its leader and then withdraw his membership in 2023.
Photo: AP
Party members voted with 96 percent support to reinstate him as leader.
“I thank everyone for trusting my ability once again,” the 61-year-old told members after the vote. “My heart never left here.”
Thailand is governed by a minority government, with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pledging to dissolve parliament and hold a new election within four months.
Analysts said Abhisit’s comeback could position the Democrat Party as a key player in the next polls, where he would likely be its leading candidate.
“People already have long-standing connections with him and the Democrat Party,” Prince of Songkla University political scientist Ekkarin Tuansiri said, but added that it would not be easy.
Founded in 1946, the Democrat Party was once a political powerhouse and a long-time rival to former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s “Red Shirts” movement, but it has struggled over the past few years with declining support and internal discord.
Born in England and educated at Oxford, Abhisit — a dual Thai-British national — has often been accused by rivals of being out of touch with Thais and evading the kingdom’s compulsory military service for men.
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