Former Prime Minister Abhisit
Vejjajiva arrives at Cape Dara Resort in Naklua with Surat Mekarawarakul,
CEO of Mike Group.
Vittaya Yoondorn
Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva used an
appearance at a Pattaya democracy conference to call on lieutenants to
reshape the Democratic Party’s public image before the country goes to the
polls again.
In his June 22 speech at the Cape Dara Resort in Naklua,
Abhisit laid out the “next steps” for the Democrats, who were trounced last
year’s elections by Pheu Thai Party. It was the first time senior party
leaders have met with lower-level representatives from eastern and central
Thailand to lay out principles and priorities aimed at reshaping the party’s
image.
The opposition leader said the Democrats objectives
remained the same: to serve the people and monitor complaints made by
citizens. However, he said, many people don’t understand the Democrat
mission, getting their only information on party priorities during the
height of election campaigning.
Therefore, Abhisit said, it was the responsibility of
lower-level party bosses to organize activities and projects to bring new
party members into the fold.
Abhisit laid out 9 policy priorities; four focusing on
society, two on the economy, a pair related to politics and one related to
Thailand’s entrance into the 2015 ASEAN Community.
Deputy party chiefs, who spoke of the need to “rebrand”
the Democratic Party to be more appealing to voters, followed the former
premier on stage. MP Jurin Lasksanwisit added that the public needs to learn
more about the law and their legal rights.
