The Democrat Party yesterday opened an election centre in Bangkok’s Laksi district, expressing hope that voters would support their candidates in the upcoming polls and enable it to make a “comeback”.
The Democrats, traditionally a mainstay in Bangkok constituencies, failed to win a single seat in the city in the 2019 polls, resulting in arguably its worst defeat ever in the capital. In the prior election, the party swept the capital, winning 23 out of the 33 seats up for grabs.
Presiding over the opening, party leader Jurin Laksanawisit said the centre in Laksi was the party’s first in the capital and it marked the party’s election readiness.
Pol Maj Gen Wichai Sangprapai, former deputy governor of Bangkok, was unveiled as an early candidate for the constituency.
Mr Jurin said the party had shortlisted 30 candidates for the Bangkok elections and would select three more after the number of House seats increased from 30 in the 2019 polls to 33 for the upcoming elections.
The party had always stood by city residents no matter the election outcome, he said. “It is normal for a political party to win some and lose some. No one can win forever,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Jurin was quoted as telling potential candidates in Bangkok that they must not be discouraged by the outcome of the 2019 polls. Citing the Bangkok city council elections in May last year in which the party secured nine seats, he said the Democrats could come around and must not be underestimated.
He also said a House dissolution would not take place before the general debate which is scheduled for Feb 15-16. The government would not risk being accused of avoiding MPs’ examination, he added.
Mr Jurin was accompanied by his deputies Ong-art Klampaiboon and Samart Ratchaphonsit, Suchatvee Suwansawat, head of the party’s policy team, and Watanya Bunnag, head of the political innovation team who defected from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party.