PUBLISHED : 14 Aug 2023 at 04:30
Results of a Nida Poll survey show most respondents back the Democrat Party re-electing former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as its leader.
The National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) poll interviewed 1,310 people from Aug 9–10 on who should be the next Democrat Party leader after the resignation of Jurin Laksanawisit.
Asked who they thought was suitable, 37.4% chose Mr Abhisit, who was party leader from March 2005 to March 2019; followed by Chuan Leekpai (24.4%), who stepped down from the party leadership position in 2003; Suchatvee Suwansawat (9.8%), who was the party’s Bangkok governor candidate; Watanya Bunnag, better known as Madam Dear (4.2%); and Mr Jurin (3.05%).
When asked if the party should join a new government led by the Pheu Thai Party, 44.9% disagreed, 16.1% totally disagreed, while 19.5% agreed and 18.7% totally agreed.
Of the 1,310 participants, 58.6% said they had never voted for the Democrat Party in past elections; 31.9% said they had, but not in the May 14, 2023, poll; 9.3% said they had, including in the recent election; and 0.15% said they had never exercised their right to vote.
The Democrat Party was founded in April 1946 and is the country’s oldest political party.
Mr Jurin resigned as leader on May 15 after the party’s poor showing in the May 14 election, where it won only 25 House seats, about half of the number it obtained in 2019. His resignation prompted an election for the new party leader and new executive committee, matters which are still unresolved after two failed attempts.