Former Democrat party leader Chalermchai Sri-on has quit the party, effective Monday.
An informed party source, close to Chalermchai’s faction, said today that Chalermchai’s resignation letter was delivered to the Office of the Election Commission on Monday by his aides.
The source went on to say that Chalermchai has not yet decided whether or when he will join any other party, adding that he will join a party with which he feels comfortable and which treats him with mutual respect.
There are 11 Democrat MPs who are closely affiliated with Chalermchai, but it is not yet clear whether they will quit the party as well. Among them are:
• Pramual Pongthavaradet and Chakraphan Piyapornpaibul, both MPs for Prachuap Khiri Khan
• Det-it Khaothong
• Suphaporn Kamnerdphol
• Saksit Khaothong and Pol Maj-Gen Surin Palareh, MPs for Songkhla province
• Chatri Laphrom, MP for Sakhon Nakhon
• Wutthiphong Namboot, MP for Ubon Ratchathani
• Supatcharee Tummapetch, MP for Phatthalung province
• Yutthakarn Rattanamas, MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat
• Yunaidee Waba, MP for Pattani province
Chalermchai resigned as Democrat party leader on September 12th, citing health concerns.
During Chalermchai’s leadership, the Democrat party suffered several setbacks which saw mass defections by veteran party members. The party was also routed in the 2023 general election, not winning a single parliamentary seat in Bangkok and losing many seats in southern provinces, formerly the stronghold of the party.
Former party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was elected the new party leader on October 18th. His political comeback has prompted several defectors to return to the party, among them Korn Chatikavanij.
