Related News

Home » World

Outgoing Thai PM re-elected opposition leader

THAILAND'S outgoing prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was re-elected today as leader of the now-opposition Democrat Party, despite fronting their crushing defeat in July's general election.

A day after his rival Yingluck Shinawatra of the Puea Thai party won parliamentary approval to become the new Thai premier, the pro-establishment Democrats re-selected Abhisit to lead them after he ran unopposed for the job.

"He's the most suitable person," veteran party member Marut Bunnag told a party meeting in Bangkok, observed by AFP, before Abhisit won 96 percent of the votes.

New premier Yingluck is due to receive royal endorsement to formalise her position on Monday afternoon, the house speaker said today.

The sister of fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by a military coup in 2006, she faces the tough challenge of bringing unity to the politically volatile kingdom.

-AFP



 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend