Democrat Party (Thailand)
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Democrat Party
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| Leader | Abhisit Vejjajiva |
| Secretary-General | Chalermchai Sri-on |
| Chief Adviser | Chuan Leekpai |
| Founded | April 6, 1946 |
| Headquarters | 67 Setsiri Rd. Samsen Nai, Phrayathai, Bangkok, Thailand |
| Youth wing | Democrat Party Youth Action |
| Ideology | Classical liberalism Conservative liberalism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| International affiliation | Liberal International |
| Continental affiliation | Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats |
| Colors | Light blue |
| Slogan | สจฺจํเว อมตา วาจา Truth is indeed the undying word — Proverb |
| Website | |
| democrat.or.th | |
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Logo depicts Phra Mae Thorani |
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The Democrat Party (Thai: พรรคประชาธิปัตย์ Phak Prachathipat) is a Thai political party. The party, the oldest in Thailand, upholds a conservatively and classically liberal pro-market position.
The Democrat Party won the most seats in parliament in 1948, 1976, and 1992 - however, it has never won an outright parliamentary majority. The party's electoral support bases are Southern Thailand and Bangkok, although election results in Bangkok have fluctuated widely. Since 2004, Democrat candidates won three elections for the governorship of Bangkok. Since 2005, the Democrat Party's leader has been Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Prime Minister.
The Thai name of the party, Prachathipat (ประชาธิปัตย์), is a corruption of the word prachathipatai (ประชาธิปไตย) which means democracy, democratic or democrat. The party said it wanted the term to mean the people in whom democracy is vested.
The Democrat Party was founded by Khuang Aphaiwong on April 6, 1946, as a conservative and royalist party, following the January 1946 elections. Early members included royalists opposed to Pridi Phanomyong and former Seri Thai underground resistance members. The party competed against the parties affiliated with Pridi Phanomyong and the Progress Party (Thailand) of brothers Seni and Kukrit Pramoj. In the January 1946 elections, the Pridi-led coalition had won a majority in the Parliament. However, Pridi declined the nomination as prime minister and the parliament appointed Khuang as premier. Khuang resigned in March 1946, after being defeated on a bill, and was replaced by Pridi. The smaller Progress Party later merged with the Democrat Party.
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