Abhisit Vejjajiva

Abhisit Vejjajiva (2010)

Abhisit Vejjajiva ( Thai : อภิสิทธิ์ เวช ชา ชีวะ , RTGS transcription Aphisit Wetchachiwa ; pronunciation ^{? / I} : [ ʔàpʰísìt wêːtʨʰaːʨʰiːwáʔ ]; born  August 3, 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne , Great Britain ) is a Thai politician. He served as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Thailand from 2005 to March 2019 and Prime Minister of Thailand from December 2008 to August 2011. He was also the official opposition leader in the Thai parliament from 2005 to 2008 and again from 2011 to 2013 .

Youth and education

Abhisit was born Mark A. Vejjajiva in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Great Britain. Both parents are Hakka medicine professors - of Chinese origin . His father Athasit was rector of Mahidol University , briefly deputy health minister in 1991 and later a member of the board of directors of the powerful agricultural company Charoen Pokphand Foods . Abhisit has two older sisters, one of whom is the novelist Jane Ngarmpun Vejjajiva . His cousin Suranand Vejjajiva is also a politician, but with the rival Thai-Rak-Thai party , or its successor Pheu Thai . He was a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office under Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra .

Abhisit attended Eton College in England and St John's College at Oxford University and completed his studies in philosophy, politics and economics with a bachelor's degree (first-class honors). He is a college friend of former London Mayor and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson . After graduation, he was appointed lecturer at the Royal Chulachomklao Military Academy in 1987 and was appointed Lieutenant of the Army in 1988. Abhisit taught briefly at Chulachomklao Academy and returned to Oxford for a Masters in Economics. He also received a bachelor's degree in law from Ramkhamhaeng University in 1990 . After graduating, Abhisit taught economics at Thammasat University .

He is married to the former dentist and current math teacher Pimpen Sakuntabhai (Chulalongkorn University) and has two children with her.

Way into politics

Abhisit began his political career in 1992 as a Democratic Party MP for a constituency in the Bangkok metropolitan area . At the age of 27 he was one of the youngest Thai MPs ever. In 1995 and 1996 he was re-elected to his seat and in the elections of 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2011 he took a place in the parliamentary list (2011 as No. 1).

During his political activities, Abhisit acted as spokesman for the Democratic Party, as government spokesman in Chuan Leekpai's first cabinet (1992-95), State Secretary to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office in Chuan's second cabinet ( 1997-2001).

Chairman of the Democratic Party

The struggle for leadership

After his political mentor Chuan Leekpai left the party leadership in 2003, Abhisit ran for the Democratic presidency. The experienced party politician and longtime constituency representative for Surat Thani Banyat Bantadtan ran against him . There was a regular internal party election campaign. While Abhisit was seen as a representative of the political, goal-oriented, liberal wing, Banyat relied on clientelist networks with the help of Secretary General Sanan Kachornprasart . So the latter managed to attract a little more of the local party representatives to his side and he won by one percentage point.

After the 2005 election, in which the Democrats suffered landslide losses to Thaksin's TRT party, Banyat resigned and Abhisit was elected unopposed to succeed him. As chairman of the largest opposition party, he was appointed official leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives.

Anti-Thaksin Crisis

Abhisit as opposition leader in parliament (2008)

When Thaksin announced new elections on February 25, 2006, Abhisit announced that he "was ready to become a prime minister who adheres to the principles of good governance and ethics , not those of authoritarianism ."

The next day, however, he announced that the Democrats, along with other opposition parties, would boycott the elections. At a press conference, Abhisit joined forces with Banharn Silpa-archa ( Chart Thai Party ) and Sanan Kachornprasart (Mahachon Party); the elections are illegal and an attempt to call Thaksins to divert public perception of the scandal caused by the sale of Thaksin's telecommunications company Shin Corporation to the Singaporean Temasek Holdings . Abhisit thought it likely that the elections would produce the result Thaksin expected anyway and on March 24, 2006, formally asked King Bhumibol Adulyadej to unilaterally appoint a new prime minister. The latter refused the request on April 26, 2006, however, with reference to the lack of constitutionality of such an act.

Due to the boycott, the TRT party ran almost unopposed on election day. The Democrats then sued the electoral commission and petitioned the election and by-elections to be null and void. The Thai Constitutional Court canceled the elections due to irregularities and ordered a rerun. The Democratic Party, for its part, faced allegations of bribing smaller opposition parties to boycott the election. Abhisit then sought talks with diplomats from twenty countries to explain the situation. The political crisis ultimately led to the military coup on September 19, 2006 and the repeal of the constitution. Shortly before all political activities were banned, Abhisit declared his opposition to the coup and called on the coup plotters to return responsibility to an elected government after six months at the latest.

However, the military junta installed a transitional government that remained in office for more than a year, as well as a "constitutional tribunal" which dissolved the TRT party for fraudulent electoral law, but acquitted the Democrats of the allegations made against them. Abhisit and his democrats welcomed the draft for a new constitution drawn up under the aegis of the military and submitted to a referendum in August 2007. He spoke of an improved version of the old 1997 constitution in terms of public rights and opportunities for political participation. In the following parliamentary election in December 2007, the Democrats were only the second strongest force behind the new party of people's power , to which the Thaksin supporters had come together and which thus the de facto successor of the TRT. Abhisit was again parliamentary opposition leader.

Political goals

According to his official party program, Abhisit advocated an “Agenda for the People” with educational efforts at the center. He also spoke out against the privatization of central government functions such as energy and water supply; Companies that have already been privatized should be nationalized.

Populist acts by the Thaksin government, such as the 30 baht health insurance, promised Abhisit not to take back, but to improve them - he even wanted to provide health care completely free of charge, as well as school education, teaching materials and school meals. He advocated an increase in the statutory minimum wage. According to Abhisit's ideas, democratic parliamentarians should also be obliged to disclose their property and additional income (according to the legal situation that was valid up to the military coup, this was only required for people in government positions).

Abhisit also sought to lower gasoline prices by abolishing the current tax of 2.50 baht (equivalent to around 0.06 euros ) per liter, which goes to the state oil fund. This plan has been heavily criticized on account of the resulting market distortion and environmental concerns.

In view of the escalating violence in southern Thailand, Abhisit promised on July 13, 2006 that he would tackle the uprisings by Muslim separatists there by raising the issue to the top of the political agenda, which has not yet been crowned with success.

Political crisis 2008

Abhisit supported the protests of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD, "Yellow Shirts"), which called for the resignation of the new Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej , whom they believed was a straw man Thaksin. Even after they besieged the government building in August 2008 and there were bloody clashes with security forces, he showed his sympathy and attended the funeral service for a dead PAD activist. While Abhisit declared his displeasure with the occupation of the Bangkok airports in late November 2008, he did not prevent his party colleagues from participating. On December 2, 2008, the Constitutional Court dissolved the ruling People's Power Party and two of its coalition partners and excluded Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat , who has now replaced Samak, and other important politicians from the government camp from political activity.

prime minister

→ Main article : Abhisit Vejjajiva's government

Abhisit at the World Economic Forum (2009)

Abhisit in full official regalia as Prime Minister with his wife Pimpen (2010)

On December 15, 2008, Abhisit was elected the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand by parliament. A group of MPs from the disbanded People's Power Party and smaller parties that were previously in coalition with it had defected to the Democratic camp. The reasons for this were suspected to be monetary payments and pressure from the top military, namely General Anupong Paochinda . Abhisit accepted these defectors into his ruling coalition, which, in addition to his democrats, included the smaller parties Bhumjaithai , Chartthaipattana , Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana , Puea Pandin , Matubhum and Soziale Aktion . He named the revival of the economy and the defense of the monarchy as the two main themes of his government program. At 44, Abhisit was the youngest Thai head of government in over 60 years.

Abhisit's government was bitterly opposed by the Thaksin-affiliated "Red Shirts" ( United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship , UDD) movement. They denounced the way he came to power as undemocratic and accused him of being a puppet of the military leadership. They held mass protests in April 2009, demanding Abhisit's resignation. Among other things, they occupied the venue of the planned fourth East Asia Summit in Pattaya , which Abhisit was to host and which had to be postponed for half a year. The prime minister declared a state of emergency. The protests were put down by the military, injuring over 120 people and killing several, according to the UDD.

From March to May 2010 the “red shirts” tried again to persuade his government to resign by blocking the Bangkok business district for weeks . After the failure of negotiations between the government and the protest movement at the end of March and a storm of “red shirts” on the parliament building, Abhisit declared a state of emergency on April 8th. After a further escalation of violence between militant government opponents and the security forces, Abhisit offered a five-point plan that included early elections within six months. However, this was rejected by the UDD.

On May 13, the Abhisit-appointed Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) ordered the use of live ammunition against "terrorists" and deployed snipers who could shoot anyone in the no-go areas stopped between the military and the protesters. The situation turned into a civil war. On May 19, the military finally evacuated the occupied area by force and the "red shirts" capitulated. A total of 91 people died in the clashes and over 2,100 were injured. The head of government only lifted the state of emergency in Bangkok at the end of December 2010.

Abhisit Vejjajiva ran as the top candidate for the Democratic Party in the 2011 parliamentary elections in Thailand on July 3. As a result of the defeat of his party, he resigned from the post of party chairman. However, the party reelected him as its chairman shortly afterwards.

Opposition leader

At the beginning of August 2011, he was replaced in the office of Prime Minister by Yingluck Shinawatra , the leader of the Pheu-Thai party and election winner. Instead, he was sworn in again as opposition leader. He held this position until Parliament was dissolved during the political crisis in December 2013.

In December 2012, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) filed murder charges against Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban . According to the authorities, the charge was based on testimony and a judgment and concerns the case of a taxi driver who was shot by soldiers during the riots in 2010. Both of the defendants pleaded not guilty and remained free on bail. On December 12, 2013, the prosecutor general's indictment was approved by the competent criminal court. In addition to the murder of the taxi driver, it also included the murder of a 14-year-old boy and the assault of a minibus driver. Abhisit turned himself in and was released on bail. In August 2014, the Bangkok Criminal Court acquitted Abhisit and Suthep.

In January 2013, Defense Minister Sukampol Suwannathat (Pheu Thai Party) dismissed Abhisit retrospectively from the army and deprived him of his officer rank for allegedly submitting false documents when he was called to evade military service . However, this decision was later reversed by the Supreme Court.

Abhisit declared a boycott of the early parliamentary elections in February 2014. First, “reforms” would have to be carried out, otherwise the people would not have any confidence in a new government, regardless of who wins the election. This also corresponded to the position of the "People's Committee for the Change in Thailand to Full Democracy with the King as Head of State" (PDRC), led by Abhisit's party colleague Suthep Thaugsuban, who called for "reforms before elections" and in January and February 2014 the capital Bangkok with protests " shut down ”. As a result of the military coup in May 2014, all political parties had to cease their work.

The Democratic Party resumed its activities in 2018 to prepare for the parliamentary election announced by the military junta. Abhisit was challenged within the party by Warong Dechgitvigrom and Alongkorn Pollabutr, who also ran for party leadership. In a primary election in November 2018, in which around 127,000 party members participated, Abhisit prevailed with 67,505 votes. In the parliamentary elections on March 24, 2019 , the Democratic Party only got 11% of the vote and 52 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives. On the evening of the election, Abhisit took responsibility for this severe defeat and resigned from the party leadership.

Web links

Commons : Abhisit Vejjajiva  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Athasit Vejjajiva, executive profiles, Charoen Pokphand Foods Pub. Bloomberg Business Week.
2. ↑ Philip Golingai: Peas in a pod They are not. In: The Star , January 17, 2009.
3. ↑ Daniel Ten Kate, Rattaphol Onsanit: Abhisit's UK Roots May Prompt Distrust From Thai Rural Voters. Bloomberg, December 15, 2008.
4. ↑ ^{a b} Punchada Sirivunnabood: Building local party Organizations in Thailand. Strengthening party rootedness or serving elite interests? In: Party Politics in Southeast Asia. 2013, p. 173.
5. ↑ Michael Kelly Connors: Thaksin's Thailand. Thai politics in 2003-2004. In: Thailand's Economic Recovery. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore 2006, p. 37.
6. ↑ ^{a b} Abhisit briefs political attaches from 20 countries. Breaking news. In: The Nation. Archived from the original on July 7, 2006 ; accessed on October 6, 2013 . 
7. ↑ Abhisit criticises, then politics banned. In: The Nation , September 21, 2006.
8. ^ Draft gets Democrats' vote. Party says new charter offers better protection of human, political rights. ( Memento from March 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
9. ^ Duncan McCargo: Thai Politics as Reality TV. In: The Journal of Asian Studies , Volume 68, No. 1, 2009, p. 16.
10. ^ New face, old anger. In: The Economist , December 18, 2008.
11. ↑ cf. New head of government has been elected - again protests at welt.de, December 15, 2008
12. ↑ Federico Ferrara: Thailand Unhinged. Unraveling the Myth of a Thai-Style Democracy. Equinox Publishing, Singapore 2010, pp. 78-80.
13. ↑ Prime Minister draws conclusions. In: the daily newspaper . July 4, 2011, accessed July 4, 2011 . 
14. ↑ Former head of government charged with murder. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung. December 13, 2012, accessed December 14, 2012 . 
15. ^ DSI chief defends murder charge. In: Bangkok Post. December 13, 2012, accessed December 14, 2012 . 
16. ↑ murder charges against ex-head of government. In: DerStandard.at , December 12, 2013.
17. ↑ Abhisit reports for indictment. In: Bangkok Post , December 12, 2013.
18. ↑ Thomas Fuller: Thai Court Dismisses Murder Case Against Ex-Leaders. In: The New York Times (online), August 28, 2014.
19. ^ Abhisit stripped of military record. In: The Nation , January 3, 2013.
20. ↑ Abhisit to ask NACC to probe ex-defense minister Sukumphol. Thai PBS English News, January 17, 2018.
21. ^ Opposition to boycott Thailand elections in February , DW, December 21, 2013.
22. ^ Thomas Fuller, Thai Opposition Party Will Boycott February Elections as Large Protests Continue. In: The New York Times (online), December 21, 2013.
23. ↑ Asaree Thaitrakulpanich: Abhisit Wins Democrat Party leadership. In: Khao Sod English , November 20, 2018.
24. ↑ Abhisit resigns but wishes to join coalition. In: Bangkok Post (online), March 24, 2019.

Note on Thai names : This article addresses people by their first name.