Abhisit to lead Thailand opposition
19 Dec 2013 4:25 AM IST
Thailand’s main opposition Democrat Party leading massive anti-government rallies on Tuesday re-appointed former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva as its leader but members could not decide whether to run in snap polls called by Premier Yingluck Shinawatra to appease protesters.
Vejjajiva, who faces the murder charge in connection with the 2010 political violence, was the only candidate in the election and received 98 per cent of the vote. Party adviser Banyat Banthatthan nominated his candidacy.
But party members remain divided over whether the democratic process should be respected, with the party taking part in the 2 February snap election, or if they should continue with street protesters, who are calling for political reforms to be implemented before another election can be held.
‘There will be no conclusion today as to whether the Democrat Party will run,’ Abhisit told reporters.
The protesters want Yingluck and her brother former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to be out of the politics of the country.
Democrat politicians resigned from parliament this month to join the street protests, which have been led by Suthep Thaugsuban, who was a deputy prime minister under Abhisit until 2011. The move prompted Yingluck to dissolve parliament and deepened a political crisis. The Democrats must decide by 27 December if they want to register for the vote.
Vejjajiva, who faces the murder charge in connection with the 2010 political violence, was the only candidate in the election and received 98 per cent of the vote. Party adviser Banyat Banthatthan nominated his candidacy.
But party members remain divided over whether the democratic process should be respected, with the party taking part in the 2 February snap election, or if they should continue with street protesters, who are calling for political reforms to be implemented before another election can be held.
‘There will be no conclusion today as to whether the Democrat Party will run,’ Abhisit told reporters.
The protesters want Yingluck and her brother former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to be out of the politics of the country.
Democrat politicians resigned from parliament this month to join the street protests, which have been led by Suthep Thaugsuban, who was a deputy prime minister under Abhisit until 2011. The move prompted Yingluck to dissolve parliament and deepened a political crisis. The Democrats must decide by 27 December if they want to register for the vote.
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