Likely to take over as caretaker leader

PRADIT RUANGDIT

Outgoing Democrat leader Banyat Bantadtan congratulates Jermmard Junglerdsiri, left, the party candidate who won in Bangkok's constituency 1 on Sunday, at the Democrat headquarters yesterday. — PHRAKRIT JUNTAWONG

Abhisit Vejjajiva is set to take over as acting Democrat party leader and is preparing to revamp the party following its disastrous showing in Sunday's general election.

The party's executive board is to meet tomorrow to name Mr Abhisit its new leader and select a new board in a caretaking capacity, replacing Banyat Bantadtan who stepped down yesterday over the Democrats' poor performance in the Feb 6 elections.

Seventeen party executives, including secretary-general Pradit Pattharaprasit, also quit.

Mr Abhisit, the most senior deputy leader, is likely to remain in the saddle until the party holds its major caucus in April, when the assembly elects a new leader and board executives.

Mr Banyat was chosen party leader in last year's party assembly.

Mr Abhisit said the 17 executives resigned in a show of "collective spirit". He admitted whoever became party leader would have a difficult task ahead.

The party is expected to get around 96 seats from the constituency and party list systems combined. Mr Banyat had vowed to relinquish leadership if the Democrats emerged with fewer than 100 seats.

The party had campaigned for 201 MPs, one seat more than the minimum required to call a censure debate in parliament against the prime minister.

Critics said at this point the Democrats looked well short of lower house support to even censure cabinet members, let alone grill the prime minister. It would require 125 MPs at least to file a no-confidence motion against any minister.

Unofficial results indicate the Democrats and the Chart Thai party, which has joined the opposition bloc, would together command fewer than 125 seats.

Mr Banyat insisted the opposition camp would function as best it could under such limitations.

Mr Abhisit said the outcome was a wake-up call, galvanising the party into adopting serious multi-faceted internal reforms. "The party needs to conduct a thorough soul searching," Mr Abhisit said.

Specifically, the party must figure out how to better reach out to people and gain their acceptance.

Mr Abhisit maintained, however, that the party would stick to its bedrock ideology although some practical aspects relating to manpower and working culture needed a "major overhaul".

His thoughts on party improvement would be conveyed at the party's meeting tomorrow.

Mr Abhisit said the future choice of party leader was not limited within the party. Anyone who was capable, including World Trade Organisation director Supachai Panichapakdi, a Democrat, could lead the party.

Mr Abhisit declined to comment on whether the leader's election in April would split the party.

Mr Pradit and Democrat deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit have given solid support to Mr Abhisit as the caretaker leader.

Meanwhile, Chuan Leekpai, former prime minister and party mentor, denied news reports he had been approached to return as party leader. The top seat should be extended to Mr Abhisit, given his seniority, he said.

Mr Chuan admitted he was shocked by the party's poor election performance in the North and Bangkok, although the party's resounding victory on its home turf in the South clearly showed people's dissatisfaction with the government's policies there.