Madam Dear launches Democrat leadership bid to ‘restore glory days’

Watanya, chairwoman of the Democrat’s Bangkok political innovation panel, held a press conference at the party’s head office to formally announce her leadership bid.

If elected on December 9, she will become the ninth leader and first female chief of the party, which was established in 1946.

Watanya prayed to a statue of the Earth Goddess, the party’s symbol, before announcing her bid.

She told the press conference that the leadership election proved the Democrats were a truly democratic party, not owned by anyone.

She also vowed to guide the Democrats back to their glory days as a formidable opposition party.

The party’s MPs were once famed as star debaters whose powerful rhetoric made them a force to reckon with in Parliament.

However, the Democrats dropped to fourth place at the 2019 election before slipping to sixth in the 2023 election, winning only 25 seats and none in their traditional stronghold of Bangkok.

Watanya, who is married to Nation Multimedia Group CEO Chai Bunnag, is expected to face strong competition from acting deputy leader Narapat Kaeothong, who is backed by the party’s powerful acting secretary-general, Chalermchai Sri-on.

Chalermchai reportedly wants to join the Pheu Thai-led coalition government.

However, Watanya said she had won the "blessing" of other senior Democrat figures Chuan Leekpai and Banyat Bantadtan during courtesy calls on the former party chiefs.

She also spoke with Chalermchai and asked for his support.

Watanya said she only informed the party seniors of her leadership bid, adding that no negotiations were involved.

She said she hoped the party’s MPs and members would look beyond issues of age and gender and judge candidates on their ability.

“I would like to lead the Democrat Party forward by making it fair for all. I believe Democrat members will give a chance to all suitable candidates. Whatever the result, I will humbly accept it.”

She said that under her guidance, the Democrats would engage in a new style of politics with integrity and sincerity while reviving the party’s ideology to restore voters’ faith.

“The Democrats under my leadership would perform their duty in opposition to the maximum,” Watanya said, adding she had no intention of seeking benefits from the government.

She also announced the following three measures to regain public trust in the party:

- Clarifying Democrat ideology. The party’s ideology had faded into ambiguity since it was formed 77 years ago, she said.

- Making the Democrats a true party of the people by maximising public input in policy.

- Ensuring the party’s economic policies support liberalism while guaranteeing state welfare and decentralisation of administrative power.

Watanya said her team and secretary-general would be announced soon.

On rumours that Nakhon Si Thammarat MP Chaichana Dejdecho will be her candidate for secretary-general, Watanya advised reporters to ask Chaichana himself.

Chuan arrived as the press conference wrapped up and asked Watanya: “Have you announced your candidacy here? Everything all right?”

Watanya replied she was there to announce her candidacy to the media and would do her best, as she previously told him.

Asked by reporters if he had any advice for Watanya, Chuan said she was a capable person and needed no recommendations from him.

Several young-generation Democrat members also greeted Watanya with bouquets in a show of support.