Jurin Laksanavisit (second from right) (Source: bangkokpost.com)
Bangkok (VNA) – The Democrat Party of Thailand on May 15 elected JurinLaksanavisit as its new leader after the resignation of Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Jurinwon with 50.5 percent of the votes from party MPs and members, followed byPeerapan Saliratwipak with 37.2 percent.
Thenew leader will probably determine the direction of the party and whether itwill join the pro-junta bloc in government.
Theelection was held following the resignation of its party leader and formerprime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, after the party performed poorly in theMarch 24 General Election.
Democratwon only 52 seats in the 500-strong House of Representatives. The party lostall seats it contested in Bangkok, where it won 23 out of 33 MP seats in the2011 election. It is also losing its grip in southern Thailand, winning onlyone seat in Pattani, in the recent election.-VNA
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Jurin Laksanavisit (second from right) (Source: bangkokpost.com) 
