Democrat Party leader Chalermchai Sri-on has submitted his resignation, citing health problems that prevented him from fully carrying out his duties and could cause damage to the party.
His resignation came after the party became part of the opposition bloc, as Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul forms his cabinet.
During the premiership of Anutin’s predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Democrat Party was part of her coalition government, holding 25 MPs from the 2023 general election.
Chalermchai, the ninth leader of the party, tendered his resignation letter, dated September 12, to the registrar of political parties at the Election Commission (EC).
However, the EC rejected the letter, saying that the resignation must be notified by the party itself, not by Chalermchai personally.
Deputy leader Pramuan Pongthaworadej will act as the Democrat Party’s leader in his place.
The Democrat Party, Thailand’s oldest political party, has been facing a steep decline in parliamentary seats and public support in recent years, particularly in the South, its former stronghold.
During Chalermchai tenure, the party suffered setbacks from mass defections among veteran party members and a plunge in popularity. It also alienated many of its long-time supporters by joining the Pheu Thai-led coalition government.
The party was also routed in the May 2023 general election, losing all its seats in Bangkok and several seats in the southern provinces, which used to be the party’s political stronghold.
The party chose to abstain from voting for the new prime minister recently, while several renegade MPs voted for Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, who has become the new prime minister.
