Democrats deny bid to oust leader
The Democrat Party yesterday dismissed a rumour that there were "undercurrents" to oust party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and bring back Chuan Leekpai to lead its campaign for the next election.
"There is no sign that could lead to such a change in the party administrators or the leader," party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon insisted. "Party members and former party MPs still support Abhisit as our leader." Rumours have spread recently that some key Democrat members are believed to be unhappy with Abhisit's performance since taking the party leadership in early 2005. Party executive Pichet Phanvichartkul is said to have passed a message from Mahachon Party leader Sanan Kachornprasart to former Democrat leader Chuan that Sanan wanted Chuan to take over the Democrat leadership. If he did, Sanan would return to the Democrats to back Chuan for the prime minister in the next election under the new Constitution. The two veterans worked together during the Democrat heydays in the 1990s, when Chuan became the prime minister twice with strong support from Sanan as party secretary-general. Ong-art said he had asked Pichet about the rumour, which the executive denied, saying he had not met Sanan for a long time. The rumour, he believed, rose due to speculation by observers and critics rather than any real movement from party members, who well understood the situation and still supported Abhisit. The Nation
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