Only one man can resurrect Democrat Party in 2016

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015
Only one man can resurrect Democrat Party in 2016

The Democrat Party can boast of being the oldest political party in Thailand

It is not that the Democrats lack good and capable people. Several of its members have proved their leadership abilities on the international stage. Among them, Surin Pitsuwan has served as secretary-general of Asean and Supachai Panichpakdi as secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
So what has gone wrong with the party?
First, there is a strict hierarchy in the party’s internal operations.
Second, despite its name, the party’s inner workings do not function in a democratic manner.
Last but not least, party elders retain a dominant role in executive-level decision-making. This means that the leader, despite being elected by party members, lacks control over the direction of the party.
The solution is simple: current leader Abhisit Vejjajiva must realise that only he can bring the reform that his party needs.
Sometimes it takes a bold act on the part of a true leader to effect much-needed change.
Vint Chavala