The executive committee of the Democrat party has scheduled a meeting on Thursday to prepare for the election of the new party leader, to replace Chalermchai Sri-on who resigned recently citing health problems.
Chaichana Detdecho, an MP and deputy party leader, said today that, according to the party’s regulations, an election for a new leader must be held within 60 days of Chalermchai’s resignation.
He said the leadership post is open all qualified candidates, adding that invitations will be extended to veteran and former party members to return to rebuild the party and to restore its reputation, after it suffered serious setbacks from election defeats and defections.
Chaichana said he is confident that several former party members would return and that the new party leader would be elected within a month.
Asked about the prospect of former party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva staging a political comeback, the Nakhon Si Thammarat MP said that Abhisit is an important figure in Thai politics and a capable person, adding that there are other former party members who are as capable, such as Korn Chatikavanij, a former finance minister.
