Democrats to go for major reform

The opposition Democrat Party will soon embark on structural reform, party spokesperson Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said yesterday.

Chavanond said at a press conference that the party’s legal team will present new party regulations within 30 days for the executive committee’s consideration.

The executive committee met yesterday to discuss ways to reform the party after recognising the changing situation in the country and in order to realise a new form of politics for all citizens and the public to benefit. The reform is also aimed at rescuing the Kingdom from the current crisis, said Chavanond.

 After the executive committee considers the reform plan, party members will have to decide whether the proposed plan is suitable or not.

Chavanond insisted that the reform plan did not stem from internal party problems but from the recognition that the country is facing a crisis with citizens being abandoned by the current Yingluck Shinawatra administration. He said people want to see a political party that could be their hope and that is capable of rescuing the country, hence the party’s structure needed to change.

He said the meeting yesterday also discussed the current government’s national reform bid, which many groups see as an attempt to divide the cake of interests amongst those who support the administration. He said the party would hold a seminar and also consider recommendations made by social critic Prawase Wasi and the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand and ensure that the government will not simply ignore them.

Chavanond hinted at some aspects of the new party structure. He said there would be experienced party staff working in local areas to better listen to the problems of the local people. The process of selecting candidates for the House will also be different and would better meet the demands of the people. He expects a closer working relationship between party members and local people with the new structure.

Back in April, deputy party leader Alongkorn Ponlaboot had voiced concerns about the party and in May proposed a reform plan for the party.

Alongkorn wasn’t at the meeting yesterday although Chavanond said he was informed about the meeting. The party spokesperson said the committee is taking in views from not just Alongkorn but also from other senior party members, who were tasked by party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to look into possible ways to reform the party, such as Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich and others.