Democrats set up panel to study internal reforms

The Democrat Party has set up a panel that will spend 30 days considering measures to reform the party, party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva announced at a press conference yesterday.

He said the decision to set it up was made during a meeting of the party's executive board on Monday.

Abhisit said the party had initially planned to hold the press conference on Tuesday but deferred it to yesterday because deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr was not available. Alongkorn, who has reportedly had conflicts with key party members over the reform measures, was present yesterday.

The party leader said the ad hoc panel would study all reform measures and not limit its consideration to the blueprint proposed by Alongkorn.

The Democrat leader said the reform measures would seek to increase the efficiency of the party's structure and operations to prepare it for the next election. The Democrats expect the government will call a general election this year, Abhisit added.

He said the reforms would involve changes to party regulations. Once the party's executive board has approved the proposal to establish the ad hoc panel, it will be submitted to a meeting of MPs and eventually sent to the party assembly for consideration. The process of approval by the party's assembly should be finished in three months, Abhisit added.

Abhisit urged party members and the media to be patient and wait for the ad hoc panel's decision in 30 days to avoid causing public confusion. He believed all the reform proposals had the same goal of supporting the party's 10-point ideology, and would not affect its work as a checks-and-balances mechanism against the government.

Alongkorn told the press yesterday that his earlier comments had been misinterpreted to mean he wanted the party to adopt his blueprint. Alongkorn said there were several other proposals, including those of deputy leader Apirak Kosayodhin and Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, the chair of the Democrat MPs.

Latest stories in this category

• Thai Spring 'gaining in strength'


• Almost 10,000 people have joined the Thai Spring..


• Constitutional Court to review Abhisit's MP status


• Democrats set up panel to study internal reforms

We Recommend

• 'National pride' must be restored in Suvarnabhumi, says new..


• Suvarnabhumi Airport saw its global ranking slide..


• Acer launches Aspire P3 Hybrid Ultrabook, Aspire..


• War on drugs hitting poor women hard: study

Comments conditions

Users are solely responsible for their comments.We reserve the right to remove any comment and revoke posting rights for any reason withou prior notice.

Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/05/17/democrats-set-up-panel-to-study-internal-reforms/