New Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiya led executive members into the party’s head office on Monday morning, and said he planned to invite three outsiders for their views on restoring the credibility of Thailand’s oldest political party.
Mr Abhisit and his team paid respect to the statue of the Earth Goddess Mae Thorani, the party’s emblem, before holding their first meeting, to map out the future direction of the party going into the promised general election next year.
The former prime minister was reinstated as Democrat leader on Saturday after Chalermchai Sri-on stepped down amid the party’s declining popularity and internal chaos after some members broke the alliance with the Pheu Thai Party and supported the Bhumjaithai Party-led coalition.
He said he had invited academic and former minister Suvit Mesinsee, KKP Bank Director Banyong Pongpanich and WHA Corp Group chief executive Jareeporn Jarukornsakul to a ameeting on Oct 28 to offer their views on the party and the future of the country.
“I am confident they will have valuable opinions for us. Their views will give us all some good homework to do,” Mr Abhisit said.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnviraku promised to call a general election in four months when he recently took office at the head of his fragile coalition. No date has been announced, but the government has suggested March 29.