Abhisit calls for ‘rebranding’ of Democrats at Pattaya conference

Friday, 06 July 2012 From Issue Vol. XX No. 27 By  Vittaya Yoondorn
  • 1 Comment

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.

Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva arrives at Cape Dara Resort in Naklua with Surat Mekarawarakul, CEO of Mike Group. Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva arrives at Cape Dara Resort in Naklua with Surat Mekarawarakul, CEO of Mike Group.

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.

Last modified on Friday, 06 July 2012 10:08


1 Comment

  • Comment Link Thursday, 19 July 2012 15:34 posted by donfie

    The real problem the Democrats have is not that people don't understand their policies; it's that people actually DO understand them. They have only one, after all: keep absolute control of the country in the hands of the royalist oligarchy. They have shown time and again that they have, not only no great liking for the "great unwashed" (as former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij called them), but actually a deep and intense hatred of them. A hatred born of fear, but no less extreme or violent or repressive for that.

    The idea that the Democrats feel the public is too stupid to understand why they are best for the country, shows exactly why they are not, and the people know this very well.

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