NEWSThink
MANOP THIP-OSOD
The recent changing of the guard in the Democrat party has taken its toll on party unity and the cracks may not heal in time for the next election.
The country's oldest party met on Tuesday to select a slimmed-down executive board of 19 members, from 49 previously.
Earlier, the Election Commission backed the party's request for the downsize, which is apparently designed to minimise any impact of a "political accident" in the future.
After witnessing the Thai Rak Thai party dissolved because of a vote-buying verdict delivered against its executive, the Democrats thought the party should put in place a leaner executive board just as its rival the People Power party, which rose from the ashes of Thai Rak Thai, has done.
But the Democrats also have their own lesson to draw from. The party almost disintegrated 20 years ago shortly after an executive shake-up. Disenchanted by what they perceived to be injustices in a cabinet reshuffle which favoured certain party executives, core leaders Veera Musikhapong and Chalermphan Srivikorn packed their bags and left. They formed the short-lived Prachachon party.
Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva stressed that the compact panel would keep the party going through tougher political times. But charges that it is rewarding certain party executives with special favours appear to be haunting the Democrats once again.
At Tuesday's meeting, Vithoon Nambutr lost his seat as deputy party leader to party list MP Kraisak Choonhavan, who won the backing from MPs in the Northeast, the East and the Central Plains.
Many northeastern MPs tried to block Mr Kraisak taking over from Mr Vithoon as deputy leader in charge of the party's affairs in the Northeast. Mr Kraisak does not have a strong political support base in the region, which could marginalise the party further in the northeastern constituencies where it fares poorly against the People Power party.
Mr Kraisak will have a hard time selling himself to voters. By contrast, Mr Vithoon has managed to secure a firm foothold in many constituencies - and despite that achievement, has still failed to take away seats from the PPP, said one Democrat MP.
Attempts by the Democrats to block the rise of late prime minister Gen Chatichai Choonhavan's son at the meeting ended in futility.
Supporters thought the party ditched Mr Vithoon, who is being investigated for electoral fraud.
But the law may not spare the party from dissolution, if Mr Vithoon is ruled guilty as charged and even after he has left the executive board.
Oxford graduate Sirichoke Sopha failed to get the job of party spokesman. It went to Buranach Samutrak, who did not pull out of the race as anticipated by some party insiders.
Soon after the results were announced, Mr Sirichoke walked out of the meeting. He declined to be nominated for another executive seat.
Dr Buranach has close ties with Mr Abhisit as well as Korn Chatikavanij, the new party deputy leader for Bangkok.
The job of deputy party leader overseeing the Central Plains changed from Phetchaburi MP Alongkorn Ponlaboot to Prachuap Khiri Khan MP Chalermchai Sri-on. Mr Chalermchai was backed by party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban.
Mr Abhisit knew the executive shake-up could cause ructions and even tear the party apart.
He offered the disappointed members a chance to work on the party's economic panel, MP-selection panel and political development panel.
But is that enough to mend fences and help Mr Abhisit realise his ambition of taking office at the next election?
The party will have to stop the damage caused by the executive changes from spiralling out of control, or it could face the prosect of sitting in opposition for many more years to come.
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