Jurin Laksanavisit (second from right) (Source: bangkokpost.com) Bangkok (VNA) – The Democrat Party of Thailand on May 15 elected Jurin Laksanavisit as its new leader after the resignation of Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Jurin won with 50.5 percent of the votes from party MPs and members, followed by Peerapan Saliratwipak with 37.2 percent.
The new leader will probably determine the direction of the party and whether it will join the pro-junta bloc in government.
The election was held following the resignation of its party leader and former prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, after the party performed poorly in the March 24 General Election.
Democrat won only 52 seats in the 500-strong House of Representatives. The party lost all seats it contested in Bangkok, where it won 23 out of 33 MP seats in the 2011 election. It is also losing its grip in southern Thailand, winning only one seat in Pattani, in the recent election.-VNA
VNA
