Democrat Party (Thailand)

Democrat Party
Leader	Abhisit Vejjajiva
Secretary-General	Chalermchai Sri-on
Chief Adviser	Chuan Leekpai
Founded	April 6, 1946
Headquarters	67 Setsiri Rd. Samsen Nai, Phrayathai, Bangkok, Thailand
Youth wing	Democrat Party Youth Action[1]
Ideology	Classical liberalism[2][3][4] Conservative liberalism[5]
Political position	Centre-right
International affiliation	Liberal International
Continental affiliation	Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
Colors	Light blue
Slogan	สจฺจํเว อมตา วาจา Truth is indeed the undying word — Proverb[6]
Website
democrat.or.th
Politics of Thailand Political parties Elections Logo depicts Phra Mae Thorani

The Democrat Party (Thai: พรรคประชาธิปัตย์ Phak Prachathipat) is a Thai political party. The party, the oldest in Thailand, upholds a conservatively and classically liberal pro-market position.^[2][7]

The Democrat Party won the most seats in parliament in 1948, 1976, and 1992 - however, it has never won an outright parliamentary majority. The party's electoral support bases are Southern Thailand and Bangkok, although election results in Bangkok have fluctuated widely. Since 2004, Democrat candidates won three elections for the governorship of Bangkok. Since 2005, the Democrat Party's leader has been Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Prime Minister.

Names

The Thai name of the party, Prachathipat (ประชาธิปัตย์), is a corruption of the word prachathipatai (ประชาธิปไตย) which means democracy, democratic or democrat. The party said it wanted the term to mean the people in whom democracy is vested.^[8]

History

Founding of the Party

The Democrat Party was founded by Khuang Aphaiwong on April 6, 1946, as a conservative and royalist party, following the January 1946 elections. Early members included royalists opposed to Pridi Phanomyong and former Seri Thai underground resistance members. The party competed against the parties affiliated with Pridi Phanomyong and the Progress Party (Thailand) of brothers Seni and Kukrit Pramoj. In the January 1946 elections, the Pridi-led coalition had won a majority in the Parliament. However, Pridi declined the nomination as prime minister and the parliament appointed Khuang as premier. Khuang resigned in March 1946, after being defeated on a bill, and was replaced by Pridi. The smaller Progress Party later merged with the Democrat Party.

Accusation against Pridi Phanomyong

After the death of King Ananda Mahidol in 1946, the Democrat Party accused Pridi of having been the mastermind behind the King's death and spread this propaganda throughout the capital.^[9] Seni Pramoj's wife told the US chargé d'affaires that Pridi had the King assassinated, and Democrat Party members spread the same rumor to the British embassy.^[10] A few days after the King's death, a Democrat MP yelled out, "Pridi killed the King!" in the middle of a crowded theater.^[11]

November 1947 coup and the 1949 Constitution

By the time of the elections of August 1946, the Democrat Party was backed by royalists like Prince Upalisarn Jubala, Srivisarn Vacha, Sridhamadibes, Borirak Vejjakarn, and Srisena Sombatsiri. Except for Prince Upalisarn Jubala, all of these figures would become Privy Councilors to King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Parties affiliated with Pridi continued to win a majority of seats in parliament. Pridi was appointed Premier, but later conceded to Luang Thamrong Navasavat. A military coup led by Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram later overthrew the Thamrong government.

The palace persuaded Marshal Plaek to appoint Khuang Aphaiwong as figurehead civilian Prime Minister.^[12] In subsequent elections on January 29, 1948, the Democrats won the majority for the first time, and reappointed Khuang as Premier. Khuang packed his cabinet with palace allies, much to the consternation of the military. The military later, claiming that they were supporters of constitutional monarchy, demanded that Khuang resign. Marshal Plaek replaced Khuang as Prime Minister.

Although having no representatives in the cabinet, the Democrats had key representatives in the constitution drafting committee. Headed by Seni Pramoj and dominated by royalists under the direction of Prince Rangsit and Prince Dhani, the 1949 Constitution elevated the throne to its most powerful position since the 1932 overthrow of the absolute monarchy.^[13] Among its features was a senate whose members were to be appointed directly by the King. The constitution triggered protests among much of the public. It was attacked as contrary to the purpose of the 1932 revolution. Critics were branded republicans and communists.^[14]

Subsequent elections saw military-backed parties winning the majority in the House; however the Senate was still dominated by Democrats and other royalists. As Marshal Plaek was still Premier, tensions between the military and the Democrat/palace-alliance steadily increased. On November 29, 1951, the military and the police seized power, just as King Bhumibol's ship was returning to Thai waters. Although the military's 1952 constitution, which was similar to the 1932 Constitution, called for elections, the Democrats had been practically barred from government for the following 23 years.

Sarit Dhanarajata's Government

Sarit Dhanarajata seized power from Marshal Plaek in 1957. Unlike Marshal Plaek, Sarit deified the throne, thus removing any advantage that the Democrats, who had previously been dominated by royalists, may have had. The junta did not immediately abrogate the 1952 Constitution, but instead appointed Pote Sarasin as figurehead civilian Premier. Elections were held on December 15, 1957, resulting in the Democrats losing to military-backed parties. Sarit's ally General Thanom Kittikachorn was appointed as Premier. Sarit later went to the US to seek treatment on his liver cirrhosis. Eight months later, he recovered, returned and executed another coup while dissolving Parliament, abrogating the Constitution, and ruling by Revolutionary Council. For the next 9 years, there were no elections in Thailand, and the Democrat Party had been dormant.

Thanom Kittikachorn's Rule through Military Power

Thanom Kittikachorn, who had succeeded Sarit after his death, was pressured to promulgate a democratic constitution on June 20, 1968, and hold elections in February 1969. Parties affiliated with Thanom won that election, and the Democrats joined the opposition. Thanom, his son Narong, and his brother-in-law Praphas Charusathien became known as the Three Tyrants. They later executed a coup against their own government on November 17, 1971, abrogating the Constitution and running the Kingdom through a National Executive Council. Beginning in 1972, popular demands for democratic freedoms began to grow. In response to the demands, the National Executive Council drafted a new charter in December 1972, which established a wholly appointed 299-member National Legislative Assembly.

The Shift to an unstable Civilian Government

Opposition to the Three Tyrants culminated on October 14, 1973, when 400,000 protested at the Democracy Monument. A violent crackdown and subsequent intervention by the King led to the appointment of Privy Councilor Sanya Dhammasakdi as Premier. The Three Tyrants left the Kingdom. Sanya established a constitution drafting committee, consisting of Kukrit Pramoj (who by this time had established and defected to the Social Action Party) and many academics. The new constitution was promulgated on October 7, 1974.

Legislative elections were held in January 1975, resulting in none of the 22 parties coming close to winning a majority. The Democrats, led by Seni Pramoj, formed a coalition government in February 1974. Seni was appointed Premier, but the coalition was unstable, and was replaced in less than a month by a Social Action Party-led coalition which appointed Social Action Party leader Kukrit Pramoj as Premier.

Seni Pramoj and the 6 October 1976 Massacre

The Kingdom descended into political chaos, with anti-leftist groups growing increasingly violent. In January 1976, the military pressured Kukrit to dissolve Parliament. Elections were scheduled on 14 April. The months leading up to the election were particularly eventful: The head of the Socialist Party was assassinated, the Red Gaur attempted to bomb the headquarters of the New Force Party (a leftist party), and the Chart Thai Party was established with the slogan "Right Kills Left". Seni Pramoj's Democrats won the most seats in the election, and formed an unstable coalition government.

Seni's government came under great pressure. A bill to extend elections to local levels was passed by Parliament 149-19, but the King refused to sign the bill or return it to Parliament, effectively vetoing it.^[15] As anti-leftist sentiments escalated, Praphas Charusathien returned shortly from exile and met the King. Students protesting against Praphas' return were attacked by Red Gaur paramilitary units. On September 19, 1976, Thanom also returned from exile and was immediately ordained as a monk at Wat Bovornives. Massive protests erupted. The King and Queen returned from a trip to the South and visited monk Thanom, leading Seni to resign from the premiership in protest. His resignation was refused by Parliament, but initial attempts to reshuffle his cabinet were vetoed by the King.^[16] The political tension finally culminated in the 6 October 1976 massacre, when Village Scouts and Red Gaur joined with some military and police to massacre at least 46 students protesting at Thammasat University.^[17] That evening, the military seized power and installed hard-line royalist Tanin Kraivixien as Premier.

The military coup to restore order was endorsed by the King, who declared it was "a manifestation of what the people clearly wanted."^[18] The new constitution did not express any obligation for the government to have a cabinet or elections, and gave the Premier near-absolute powers.

The Democrat Party in the 1990s

The Democrat Party became an outspoken opponent of military rule in Thai politics during the 1990s. The Democrat Party was the key member of the "People Power" movement in 1992.

Chuan Leekpai

Election results in the South, 1975-2005

The party's voter base is traditionally concentrated in Southern Thailand and in Bangkok, where the party relies on the support from the capital's aristocratic, meritocratic and educated middle and upper classes. In the 1990s, under the leadership of Chuan Leekpai, a native of Trang province in Southern Thailand, the Democrats quickly became the dominant party in Southern Thailand. The influences of provincial politicians from the south into the party created considerable tension with the party's Bangkok establishment. Chuan's "Mr. Clean" image, however, made him personally popular with Democrat Party supporters throughout Thailand, and so the party managed to stay cohesive under his leadership. The first Chuan government (1992–1995) fell when members of the Cabinet were implicated in profiting from the Sor Phor Kor 4-01 land project documents distributed in Phuket province.^[19] Chuan was again Premier from 1997 to 2001, in the midst of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and its aftermath. The Party lost a landslide election victory to Thaksin Shinawatra's populist Thai Rak Thai party, winning 128 seats compared to the TRT's 248 in the 2001 general election.

The Democrat Party in the 2000s

Banyat Bantadtan

In 2003, Chuan retired from his position as party leader. Banyat Bantadtan, a southerner and a close aide to Chuan, succeeded him after a closely fought leadership contest with Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Democrat Party 2005 election poster highlighting the "201" campaign

Democrat Party's candidate Apirak Kosayothin won the 2004 Bangkok gubernatorial election; the TRT Party did not submit a candidate. The Democrat Party lost further ground to Thai Rak Thai in the 2005 general election. In the election campaign, the Democrats had a populist platform, promoting job creation, universal education and health care, and law and order against crime and corruption.^[20] The party aimed to gain 201 seats, enough to launch a vote of a no confidence debate against the premier. They won 96 out of 500 seats and 18.3% of the popular vote. The party's leader, Banyat Bantadtan, resigned after the election.

On March 6, 2005, Abhisit Vejjajiva was elected the new party leader. Upon succeeding the party's leadership from Banyat, Abhisit noted, "It will take a long time to revive the party because we need to look four years ahead and consider how to stay in the hearts of the people."

Abhisit Vejjajiva and the Thai Rak Thai government

The popularity of the populist Thai Rak Thai Party in Thai politics from 2001 to 2006 presented new challenges to the Democrat Party. The TRT championed populist policies with its focus on providing affordable and quality health care for all citizens, village-managed microcredit development funds, the government-sponsored One Tambon One Product program, and others. The populist policies earned the TRT enormous support from rural constituencies, unprecedented in Thailand's history.

Opposition to the TRT government rose in Bangkok after Thaksin's family announced their tax-free sale of their 49.6% stake in Shin Corp to Temasek for almost 73.3 billion Baht on January 23, 2006. The People's Alliance for Democracy began a series of anti-government protests. Several Democrat Party leaders also joined the PAD,^[21] which accused Thaksin of disloyalty to the throne and asked King Bhumibol to appoint a replacement Prime Minister. Thaksin Shinawatra dissolved the House of Representatives on February 24, 2006 and called for an election. On March 24, 2006, Abhisit Vejjajiva publicly backed the People's Alliance for Democracy's call for a royally-appointed government. Bhumibol, in a speech on 26 April 2006, responded, "Asking for a Royally-appointed prime minister is undemocratic. It is, pardon me, a mess. It is irrational".^[22]

Abhisit and his allies of opposition parties boycotted the April 2006 elections, claiming it "diverted public attention" from Thaksin's corruption charges and his sale of Shin Corp.^[23] The boycott caused a constitutional crisis, prompting Thaksin to call another round of elections in October 2006, which the Democrats did not boycott. The Army seized power on 19 September and cancelled the upcoming election.

2006 coup and military government

Abhisit voiced displeasure at the 2006 coup that overthrew Thaksin, but otherwise did not protest it or the military junta that ruled Thailand for over a year. A fact-finding panel at the Attorney-General's Office found that the Democrat Party bribed other parties to boycott the April 2006 parliamentary election, which forced the constitutional crisis, and voted to dissolve the party. It also found that Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party bribed other parties to contest the election. A junta tribunal acquitted Abhisit and the Democrats of the vote fraud charges, but convicted and banned the Thai Rak Thai party and its entire executive team.

Abhisit supported the junta's 2007 Constitution, calling it an improvement on the 1997 Constitution.^[24] The military junta organized general elections for 23 December 2007.

Despite being banned from politics for five years, Thaksin Shinawatra was popular in his former support bases in the Central, North and North-Eastern Thailand and attempted to maintain an active role in Thai politics by supporting the People's Power Party, which had become the successor party of the banned TRT. Abhisit promoted populist policies in his party's campaign as the Democrat Party's platform in the 2007 parliamentary election. He claimed that while his platform was categorically considered to be populist, it sought to curb inflation while maintaining fiscal soundness, to apply the village-based microcredit development funds used in the Thaksin-led government but do it as part of promoting royalist sufficiency economy policies in rural areas, and to strengthen the country's long-term competitiveness through universal education through high school.

In the junta-administered 2007 parliamentary election, the People's Power Party won the largest share of the vote and formed a six-party coalition government. The Democrats' populist platform was poorly received in the Central, North and North-Eastern regions. The Democrat Party became the opposition as the second-largest party in the House of Representatives.

People's Alliance for Democracy and the 2008 political crisis

The People's Alliance for Democracy resurfaced to destabilize the People's Power Government, after having gone into dormancy following the 2006 coup. Several Democrat Party leaders allied themselves with the PAD in the subsequent 2008–2010 Thai political crisis. The PAD organized extended street protests and later led a months-long seizure of Government House, the seat of the Thai government. In November 2008, PAD forces seized and occupied Don Muang Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The PAD declared that the only person they would accept as Premier was Abhisit of the Democrat Party.^[25] Abhisit voiced displeasure at sieges, but did not stop his deputies from their roles in the PAD.^[26]

2008-2011 coalition government

The sieges ended when the Constitutional Court banned the People's Power Party and two of its coalition allies. During the critical period that followed the rulings, it is alleged that Army commander and co-leader of the 2006 coup, General Anupong Paochinda, coerced former PPP MPs, mainly those of the Friends of Newin Group, to endorse a Democrat Party-led coalition, which secured enough parliamentary votes to allow Abhisit to be elected Prime Minister. These MPs, along with MPs of 4 other former PPP-coalition parties, crossed the aisle to endorse a Democrat-led coalition government. In a December 2008 parliamentary session, the Democrat-led coalition government was voted upon, with 235 to 198 votes in favor of Democrat Party leader and candidate for PM Abhisit Vejjajiva.^[27][28]

During Songkran (the Thai New Year), anti-government protesters of the UDD disrupted the Fourth East Asia Summit.^[29] Violent protests then erupted in Bangkok, leading Abhisit to declare a state of emergency for 3 days, censoring the media, and using military force to end the protests.

Soon afterward, PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul was the target of an unsuccessful assassination attempt. Both Sondhi's son and Thaksin claimed that factions within the Democrat government were behind the assassination; however, Abhisit's foreign Minister claimed that Thaksin was behind it.^[30][31][32]

2011 general election

Abhisit dissolved Parliament in early 2011 and scheduled general elections on 3 July 2011. Abhisit unveiled a slate of candidates highlighted by 30 celebrities and heirs of political families, including Chitpas Bhirombhakdi, heiress of the Singha Beer fortune and former staff member of Abhisit's secretariat office.^[33] Abhisit promised to increase the minimum wage by 25% if the Democrat Party won the election.^[34]

At the general election on 3 July 2011, the Democrats were only able to defend 159 seats in the House of Representatives, while rivaling Pheu Thai Party led by Yingluck Shinawatra won an outright majority. The next day, Abhisit stepped down as the party's leader.^[35] However, on 6 August, he was re-elected as the leader of the Democrat Party with the support of 96% of those eligible to vote at the party's assembly - some 330 people including local branch leaders and MPs.^[36]

Democrat Prime Ministers

Name	Portrait	Periods in Office	Participated Election
Khuang Aphaiwong		August 1, 1944 – August 31, 1945 January 31, 1946 – March 24, 1946 November 10, 1947 – April 8, 1948	1946; 1947-1948
Seni Pramoj		September 17, 1945 – January 31, 1946 February 15, 1975 – March 13, 1975 April 20, 1976 – October 6, 1976	1975; 1976
Chuan Leekpai		September 20, 1992 – May 19, 1995 November 9, 1997 – February 9, 2001	1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001
Abhisit Vejjajiva		17 December 2008 – 5 August 2011	2007, 2008, 2011

General election results

Election	Total seats won	Total votes	Share of votes	Outcome of election	Election leader
1957 (Feb)	31 / 283			31 seats	Khuang Aphaiwong
1957 (Dec)	39 / 160			9 seats	Khuang Aphaiwong
1969	57 / 219			18 seats	Seni Pramoj
1975	72 / 269	3,176,398	17.2%	15 seats; Senior partner in governing coalition	Seni Pramoj
1976	114 / 279	4,745,990	25.3%	43 seats; Senior partner in governing coalition	Seni Pramoj
1979	33 / 301	2,865,248	14.6%	81 seats; Opposition	Thanat Khoman
1983	56 / 324	4,144,414	15.6%	23 seats; Junior partner in governing coalition	Bhichai Rattakul
1986	100 / 347	8,477,701	22.5%	44 seats; Junior partner in governing coalition	Bhichai Rattakul
1988	48 / 357	4,456,077	19.3%	52 seats; Junior partner in governing coalition (CTP-SAP-DP)	Bhichai Rattakul
1992 (Mar)	44 / 360	4,705,376	10.6%	4 seats; Opposition	Chuan Leekpai
1992 (Sep)	79 / 360	9,703,672	21.0%	35 seats; Senior partner in governing coalition	Chuan Leekpai
1995	86 / 391	12,325,423	22.3%	7 seats; Opposition	Chuan Leekpai
1996	123 / 393	18,087,006	31.8%	37 seats; Opposition	Chuan Leekpai
2001	128 / 500	7,610,789	26.6%	5 seats; Opposition	Chuan Leekpai
2005	96 / 500	4,018,286	16.1%	32 seats; Opposition	Banyat Bantadtan
2006	0 / 500	0	0%	Boycotted - nullified	Abhisit Vejjajiva
2007	165 / 480	14,084,265	39.63%	69 seats; Opposition	Abhisit Vejjajiva
2011	159 / 500	11,433,762	35.15%	14 seats; Opposition	Abhisit Vejjajiva
2014	0 / 500	Invalidated	Invalidated	Boycotted - nullified	Abhisit Vejjajiva

See also

• Khuang Aphaiwong
• Seni Pramoj
• Kukrit Pramoj
• List of political parties in Thailand

References

1. http://www.democrat.or.th/th/youngdemocrat/internship/background/
2. Medeiros, Evan S. (2008), Pacific Currents: The Responses of U.S. Allies and Security Partners in East Asia to China's Rise, RAND, p. 130
3. Connors, Michael K. (February 2008), "Article of Faith: The Failure of Royal Liberalism in Thailand" (PDF), Journal of Contemporary Asia, 38 (1): 157
4. Abbott, Jason P. (2003), Developmentalism and Dependency in Southeast Asia: The case of the automotive industry, RoutledgeCurzon, p. 112
5. Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee (2012), "Thailand", Political Parties and Democracy: Contemporary Western Europe and Asia, Palgrave Macmillan, p. 157
6. "A Study of the History and Cult of the Buddhist Earth Deity in Mainland Seast Asia (2004)" (PDF 9.2 MB Content copying allowed). PhD Thesis. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. 6/11/2010, modified 8/25/1010. p. 175. (Samyutta Nikaya 452- 5.1.189.) Check date values in: |date= (help)
7. Bunbongkarn, Suchit (1999), "Thailand: Democracy Under Siege", Driven by Growth: Political Change in the Asia-Pacific Region, M.E. Sharpe, p. 173
8. ประวัติพรรค (in Thai). Democrat Party. n.d. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
9. Subhasvsti, "Noeng Sotwarot Subhasvasti", Bangkok: Family of M.C. Subhasvasti Wongsanit Svastivat, 1999, page 82
10. Sulak Sivaraksa, "Powers That Be: Pridi Bhanomyong Through the Rise and Fall of Thai Democracy", Bangkok:Runkaew, 1999, page 18-19
11. Rayne Kruger, "The Devil's Discus", London: Cassell, 1964, page 103
12. Frank C. Darling, "American Influence on the Evolution of Constitutional Government in Thailand" Thesis, American University, 1960, page 185
13. Paul M. Handley, "The King Never Smiles" Yale University Press: 2006, ISBN 0-300-10682-3
14. The Bangkok Post, 5 February 1949
15. Such a refusal to either sign or reject legislation was very rare. Seni's government did not dare vote to reject his veto, and simply passed over the issue.
16. David Morell and Chai-Anan Samudavanija, "Political Conflict in Thailand: Reform, Reaction, Revolution", page 273
17. 46 was the official deathcount, see Bryce Beemer, Forgetting and Remembering "Hok Tulaa", the October 6 Massacre. Students were also lynched and their bodies mutilated in front of cheering crowds
18. Andrew Turon, Jonathan Fast, and Malcolm Caldwell, eds. "Thailand: Roots of Conflict", Spokesman: 1978, page 91
19. Media and democratic transitions in Southeast Asia by Duncan McCargo
20. Aurel Croissant and Daniel J. Pojar, Jr., Quo Vadis Thailand? Thai Politics after the 2005 Parliamentary Election, Strategic Insights, Volume IV, Issue 6 (June 2005)
21. The Nation, Conflicts of interest abound in dubious Democrat-PAD roles, 29 October 2008
22. "HM the King's 26 April speeches". The Nation. Retrieved 5 July 2006.
23. Straits Times, In for 'roughest ride', 15 December 2008
24. The Nation, Draft gets Democrats' vote, 9 July 2007
25. Bloomberg, Oxford Graduate Abhisit Elected in Thai Power Shift, 19 December 2008
26. The Economist, New face, old anger, 18 December 2008
27. The Nation, “สนธิ” เปิดใจครั้งแรก เบื้องลึกปมลอบยิง โยงทหารฮั้วการเมืองเก่า, 1 May 2009
28. The Telegraph, Thai army to 'help voters love' the government, 18 December 2008
29. Korea Times Class War in Thailand, 17 April 2009
30. The Nation, Sondhi's son alleges "Gestapo" behind his father's assassination attempt
31. Spiegle, 'I'm Like a Rat', 20 April 2009
32. Taiwan News, Thai diplomat accuses ousted leader in shootings, 22 April 2009
33. The Nation, Democrat to unveil 30 celebrities as electoral candidates, 11 May 2011
34. SMH, 'Cloned' sister of former leader polls strongly in Thailand, 14 June 2011
35. Thip-Osod, Manop (5 July 2011), "Abhisit steps down as Democrat leader", Bangkok Post, retrieved 4 July 2011
36. The Nation, Abhisit re-elected as Democrat leader, 6 August 2011

External links

• democrat.or.th