Abhisit downplays Democrat division following return of PDRC members
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday downplayed concerns that his party would be divided into two different schools of thought following the return of members of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), saying returnees must adhere to the party’s principles and approach.
Abhisit said he had been in talks with returned members and they had the same goal of fighting against wrongdoings and abuses of power, so there was no problem.
The Democrat Party, Abhisit added, was established with firm foundations and principles which helped neutralise any differences between members.
The PDRC members, formerly Democrat MPs who had resigned to fight on the street, also assured him they would follow the party’s work approach.
On the idea of convincing major parties to unite against the pro-military party, he said he would prefer to see parliamentary process prevail. If any party wins a majority of seats in the House, it should have the right to form a government, while parties in the House should join one another following their similar ideologies, not self-benefits, he said.
This requires more than 250 MPs’ seats, plus some support from appointed senators to meet the required number of 376 seats to form a legitimate government.
If this was the case, the senators appointed by the junta following the new charter, should not intervene in the process, but lend support, he said. But if the elected MPs gained fewer than 250 seats, appointed senators could then have a say.
“It’s something we call constitutional, and it’s the people’s will [for allowing the MPs to play a role first],” said Abhisit.
Abhisit’s deputy Nipit Intarasombat said the PDRC members may have different ideas, but when they have returned they have to follow what the party says.