Jurin quits as acting Democrat leader over confusing EC document

Rames Ratanachaweng, acting Democrat spokesman, said Jurin announced his resignation via the party’s Line group after the Election Commission’s Political Party Fund had been informed that Narapat Kaethong was now the party’s acting leader.

Narapat was acting deputy leader in charge of the North.

Jurin first resigned as Democrat leader after Thailand’s political party suffered a humiliating defeat in the May 14 general election.

Rames said the Political Party Fund later released a list of active parties and leaders in Thailand, which showed Narapat as acting Democrat leader.

He said he does not know who told the EC that Narapat was acting party leader, adding that Jurin possibly chose to step down to avoid legal complications.

Rames added that the acting executive board will elect a new acting leader in a meeting later on Tuesday.

The acting leader will then oversee a party election for the new leader and executive board.

The Democrat Party has failed to hold a party election twice reportedly due to a tussle between a faction that supports former leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and a faction that is loyal to acting party secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on.

Chalermchai’s faction dominates the party with MPs from the Northeast, which is why Abhisit’s faction wants the party’s election rules to be amended so votes from non-MPs and MPs are given equal weight.

The Democrat charter gives most weight to votes from MPs, so Abhisit’s faction has little chance of victory in the party’s election.