POLITICS
MANOP THIP-OSOD
Former Democrat party deputy leader for the Northeast Vithoon Nambutr casts his ballot at a Bangkok hotel where the Democrats held a general assembly yesterday to elect the party leader and new board of executives. Mr Vithoon was voted out. |
The Democrat party's general assembly voted in a major change in its executive line-up yesterday with the number of board members being slashed from 49 to just 19.
The shake-up also caused disunity among party members as Vithoon Nambutr lost the key position of deputy leader overseeing constituencies in the Northeast.
Mr Vithoon is facing an electoral fraud investigation. He was replaced by party-list MP Kraisak Choonhavan, who was elected to the lower house for the first time in the Dec 23 general election.
During the voting for the regional deputy positions, some MPs proposed that Mr Kraisak not be allowed to become deputy leader for the Northeast as he has served as a party member for less than a year.
This would break a party regulation, they argued. But after a 15-minute consultation, the party resolved to pick Mr Kraisak anyway.
A source said party MPs under Mr Vithoon's group felt disappointed that the veteran politician from Ubon Ratchathani was not returned as the regional deputy leader.
They thought Mr Vithoon had worked hard and honestly for the party for over 20 years. In facing a poll fraud inquiry, he did not get enough support from party members, said his close aides.
However, the aides maintained they and Mr Vithoon would stay with the party and accepted the outcome of the party's voting at yesterday's assembly.
Abhisit Vejjajiva was re-elected party leader for a second time.
The party voted to elect Niphon Promphan, Jurin Laksanavisit and Kobsak Sapavasu as deputy leaders.
Five other key posts of regional deputy leaders went to Chaiwut Bannawat, a party MP for Tak, (for the North); Kraisak, a list-MP (Northeast); Chalermchai Sri-on, a Prachuap Khiri Khan MP (Central); Witthaya Kaewparadai, a Nakhon Si Thammarat MP (South); and Bangkok MP Korn Chatikavanij (Bangkok).
Suthep Thaugsuban retained his secretary-general seat. His three deputies are Chamni Sakdiset, Mrs Siriwan Pratsajaksattru and Theera Salakpetch.
Mr Abhisit said the party's only objective is to be create a "government for all Thais."
He said all party members are keen to help solve the nation's problems through parliamentary channels.
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