By Thai Newsroom Reporters
FORMER MP WATANYA BUNNAG has finally made up her mind to contest for Democrat leader early next month.
Watanya, aka Madam Deer, spouse of Nation Group chair Chai Bunnag, is scheduled for tomorrow (Nov.29) to publicly announce her decision to contest for leader of the country’s oldest party.
An extraordinary caucus of the apparently divided Democrat is scheduled for Dec.9 to elect the party’s new leader and executive board members.
The former lawmaker of the Palang Pracharath who skipped over to the Democrat last year will likely vie against Narapat Kaewthong, an acting deputy party leader, for the top leadership of the conservative party.
Narapat, a former Democrat MP and son of former cabinet member Paitoon Kaewthong, is known to secure solid support from acting Democrat leader Chalermchai Sri-on who had allegedly stood behind a surprise, yet unfruitful move of a faction of Democrat MPs to join a Pheu Thai-led coalition government following last May’s election.
The Democrats had been largely defeated in a few previous elections, prompting former leaders, namely Abhisit Vejjajiva and Jurin Laksanavisit, to step down as Democrat leader amidst sustained conflict among the party’s rank and file.
Since Jurin stepped down as Democrat leader due to a crushing defeat of his party in the latest election, the Democrats have been evidently split with extraordinary partisan caucuses to find his replacement having been put off a few times over until Dec.9.
However, it remains to be seen whether Abhisit, the former prime minister and former Democrat leader who also resigned as MP in protest of the naming of former coup leader Prayut Chan-o-cha as head of a Palang Pracharath-led coalition government after the 2019 election might probably be named another contender for the top post of today’s second largest opposition party.
CAPTION:
Watanya Bunnag, aka Dadam Deer, alone, above, with other Democrat Party members, Front Page. Both photos: Thai Rath
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