BANGKOK, 18 December 2013 Former opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has been re-elected to lead the Democrat Party for another term.
On Tuesday, the Democrat Party held an extraordinary general assembly to select a new team of party executives. At the beginning of the meeting, former party leader Banyat Banthatthan proposed Mr. Abhisit to once again lead the party. 98% of votes were in favor of Mr. Abhisit.
Mr. Abhisit then proposed the names of 5 people for deputy party leaders – Kiat Sitthi-amon, Churing Laksanawisit, Chamni Sakset, M.R. Sukhumband Paribatra and Aphirak Kosayothin. Deputy leaders for each zone were then proposed – Khunying Kanlaya Sophonphanit for the Northeast, Ong-at Khlamphaibun for the Bangkok zone, Niphit Intharasombat for the South, and Sathit Pitutecha for the Central Region. The position of party secretary-general went to Chuti Krairoek.
Reporters noted that Alongkon Phonlabut, who spearheaded the drive to reform the Democrat Party, was not nominated to any top executive positions in the party.
