PM Abhisit visits the Bangkok Post | Bangkok Post: learning

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As I was leaving for a short trip to the bank yesterday afternoon I noticed the lobby of the Bangkok Post building was unusually busy – and for good reason.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva smiles during his visit to the office of the Bangkok Post for a special interview. KOSOL NAKACHOL

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PM Abhisit visits the Bangkok Post

As I was leaving for a short trip to the bank yesterday afternoon I noticed the lobby of the Bangkok Post building was unusually busy – and for good reason.

There, in the middle of an enthusiastic crowd of mainly female Bangkok Post staff, was Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva with a big smile on his face. He was obviously pleased at the warm reception he had received.

There were no red shirts in sight but the prime minister’s motorcade did have to pass a Democrat campaign poster with the words “91 bodies” written over his face. Then the motorcade got stuck waiting for a slow-moving train to pass.

At the Bangkok Post, the prime minister told interviewers that it would be in the Thais' best interest to vote for the Democrats in the general election and give it the 250 House seats the party needs to form a majority government.

''I will make a lot of changes and the people will get what they want from the Abhisit government,'' Mr Abhisit said.

He said his administration in its first term had to work within tight limitations.

During the past two years, the government had faced constraints as a result of the economic crisis and had to spend the two years addressing economic disparities and social inequalities before the situation had eased, he said.

Mr Abhisit said political factors – including the riots over the past two years – had also constrained the government from working efficiently.

The party needed an overwhelming majority so it could work more efficiently, he said.

Mr Abhisit admitted that opinion polls appeared to be in favour of Pheu Thai but he called into question the figures by the Suan Dusit poll that indicated Pheu Thai was ahead of the Democrats by 51% to 34%.

He said a poll conducted by the Democrat Party showed the party was behind by no more than 20 seats.

Adapted from a story by Nattaya Chetchotiros in today’s Bangkok Post. You can read the original story here: http://bit.ly/jqpNoP

lobby – a large area inside the entrance of a public building where people can meet and wait  ห้องโถง,ทางเข้า, ซุ้มประตู, ห้องรับรอง
enthusiastic – very interested in something or excited about it  อย่างสนใจ กระตือรือร้น
female – being a woman or a girl สตรี, ผู้หญิง, เพศหญิ
obviously – clearly เห็นได้ชัด, อย่างชัดแจ้ง
pleased – happy and satisfied พอใจ
reception – the way in which someone or something is received or welcomed การต้อนรับ
motorcade – a group of cars traveling with someone very important ขบวนรถ
campaign – a planned series of activities designed to persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate or political party การรณรงค์หาสียง
stuck – unable to move, or fixed in a particular position or place ติด
interest – an advantage or benefit to someone or something ผลประโยชน์
majority – more than 50 percent of a group เสียงส่วนใหญ่
administration – government รัฐบาล
term – a period of time a politician or other official holds their job ช่วงเวลาการดำรงตำแหน่ง
tight – difficult to manage ยาก, ลำบาก
limitation – a disadvantage or weak point that makes someone or something less effective ข้อจำกัด
face – to have to deal with a problem เผชิญ, พบ, เจอ
constraint – limitation; something which controls what you do by keeping you within particular limits;  something that limits your freedom to do what you want ข้อจำกัด
crisis – a situation that has reached and extremely difficult or dangerous point ช่วงวิกฤต
address – to deal with a problem จัดการปัญหา
disparity – a difference between things ความไม่เหมือนกัน
inequality – a situation in which people are not equal because some groups have more opportunities, power, money etc than others ความไม่เสมอภาค
ease – to make a problem, situation or pain less severe or serious บรรเทา
factor – a fact or situation which influences the result of something ปัจจัย
riot – a violent protest by a group of people ความไม่สงบ การจลาจล
efficiently – done in an effective, organised way อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ
overwhelming – by a very large amount or margin อย่างท่วมท้น
poll – an occasion when a lot of people are asked about what they feel about something – การสำรวจความคิดเห็น
favour – to give an advantage to someone or something เอื้อ   
figure – a number representing a particular amount, especially one given in official information ตัวเลข, จำนวนเลข
indicate – to show that something is true, exists or will happen แสดง, ทำให้รู้
conduct – to carry out ดำเนิน

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