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Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva | |
|---|---|
อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ | |
 Abhisit in 2010 | |
| 27th Prime Minister of Thailand | |
| In office 17 December 2008 – 5 August 2011 | |
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Chavarat Charnvirakul (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Yingluck Shinawatra |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 16 September 2011 – 8 December 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Yingluck Shinawatra |
| Succeeded by | Sompong Amornwiwat (2019) |
| In office 23 April 2005 – 17 December 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Banyat Bantadtan |
| Member of the House of Representatives for the Democrat Party List | |
| In office 6 January 2001 – 5 June 2019 | |
| Member of the House of Representatives for Bangkok | |
| In office 22 March 1992 – 9 November 2000 | |
| Constituency |
|
| Leader of the Democrat Party | |
| In office 6 March 2005 – 24 March 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Banyat Bantadtan |
| Succeeded by | Jurin Laksanawisit |
| Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister | |
| In office 14 November 1997 – 17 February 2001 | |
| Prime Minister | Chuan Leekpai |
| Preceded by |
|
| Succeeded by | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva 3 August 1964 Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom[1][2] |
| Citizenship |
|
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Democrat (1992–2023) |
| Spouse | Pimpen Vejjajiva |
| Children | 2[3] |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Oxford Ramkhamhaeng University |
| Signature |  |
Abhisit Vejjajiva MPCh MWM (ⓘ; Thai: อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ, RTGS: Aphisit Wetchachiwa, Thai pronunciation: [ʔà.pʰí.sìt wêːt.tɕʰāː.tɕʰīː.wáʔ] ⓘ; born 3 August 1964) is a Thai politician who was the 21st prime minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011. He was the leader of the Democrat Party[4] from 2005 until he resigned following the party's weak performance in the 2019 election. As leader of the second largest party in the House of Representatives, he was also leader of the opposition – a position he held from 2005 to 2008 and again after his premiership until his party's en masse resignation from the House on 8 December 2013.[5] Abhisit is the last prime minister neither coming from the military nor being related to the Shinawatra family to date.
Born in England to Thai Chinese parents, Abhisit also holds British citizenship. He attended Eton College and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Oxford.[6] After his graduation he taught as an economics lecturer at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy and Thammasat University. Abhisit was elected to the Thai House of Representatives at the age of 27 and served as minister to the Office of the Prime Minister under Chuan Leekpai from 1997 to 2001. He narrowly lost the 2003 Democrat Party leadership election, but unopposedly became the party's chairman two years later following the Democrats' defeat in the 2005 general election.[7]
Abhisit was appointed prime minister of Thailand on 17 December 2008, after the Constitutional Court of Thailand removed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from office.[8][9] At age 44, he was the country's youngest prime minister in more than 60 years.[10]
Abhisit became premier during the Great Recession and rising domestic political tensions.[11] As prime minister, he promoted a "People's Agenda", which focused primarily on policies affecting the living conditions of Thailand's rural and working class citizens.[12] He administered two economic stimulus packages: a US$40 billion, three-year infrastructure improvement plan, and a more than US$3 billion program of cash subsidies and handouts.[13] By 2010, the stock market and the value of the baht had rebounded to their highest levels since the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. Human Rights Watch called Vejjajiva "the most prolific censor in recent Thai history" and Freedom House downgraded Thailand's rating of media freedom to "not free".[14][15] Abhisit also advocated for stronger anti-corruption measures, although several members of his Cabinet resigned due to corruption scandals and parts of his economic stimulus packages were criticised for instances of alleged corruption.
Abhisit's government faced major protests in April 2009 and April–May 2010. The military's crackdowns on protesters left many dead.[16][17] Abhisit launched a reconciliation plan to investigate the crackdown, but the work of the investigation commission was hampered by military and government agencies.[18] The Thai Army clashed with Cambodian troops numerous times from 2009 to 2010 in the bloodiest fighting in over two decades.[19] The South Thailand insurgency escalated during Abhisit's government, and reports of torture and human rights violations increased.
Having resigned the party leadership after the defeat the Democrats suffered in the parliamentary elections of 2011, Abhisit was re-elected as leader at a party assembly.
In 2018, the Democrats held a contest for party leader in preparation for the upcoming election. Abhisit was re-elected party leader, beating former PDRC leader, Warong Dechgitvigrom, by approximately 10,000 votes.[20] However, after a poor showing in the 2019 election, Abhisit resigned as party leader.[21][22]
- ^ Powell, Sian (15 December 2008). "British-born Abhisit Vejjajiva is Thailand's new Prime Minister". The Times. UK.[dead link]
- ^ Percival, Jenny (15 December 2008). "Thai opposition leader becomes PM". The Guardian. UK. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ The Nation, Abhisit, Chuan's young protege gets his turn at last Archived 19 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ "Thailand parliament chooses economist as prime minister". Los Angeles Times. 15 December 2008. Archived from the original on 18 February 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ "Abhisit resigns as MP after Democrats back Prayut as PM". Bangkok Post. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "Profile: Thailand's new Eton educated prime minister". Telegraph. 15 December 2008. Archived from the original on 18 January 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "Thailand leader to form one-party government". The New York Times. 8 February 2005. Archived from the original on 26 May 2014.
- ^ "Thailand's prime minister ousted after weeks of protests". The Daily Telegraph. 2 December 2008. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008.
- ^ "Abhisit Vejjajiva endorsed as Thailand's new prime minister by King". Xinhua News Agency. 17 December 2008. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008.
- ^ "Talking politics with Thailand's PM". CNN. 18 December 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008.
- ^ "Class War in Thailand". Korea Times. 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2009.
- ^ Global Asia, People's Agenda: The Way Forward for Thailand, Volume 2, Number 2, Fall 2007
- ^ Forbes, Thai Prime Minister Extolls Economic Turnaround, 24 September 2010
- ^ Human Rights Watch, Thailand: Authorities Silence 'Red Shirt' Community Radios, 27 April 2011
- ^ "Level of Thai press freedom downgraded: Kingdom dropped 14 places in world rankings". Bangkok Post. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012.
- ^ "Abhisit: Corruption root of problems". Bangkok Post. 17 June 2010. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ^ "Thai Leader Offers Reconciliation Plan". The New York Times. 10 June 2010. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014.
- ^ "One year on, truth about crackdown remains elusive". Bangkok Post. 21 April 2011. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Thai, Cambodian troops clash on disputed border, 6 dead". Yahoo! News. Reuters. 22 April 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Abhisit Wins Democrat Party Leadership". Khaosod English. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
- ^ "Former Thai PM Abhisit resigns as head of Democrats after election loss - Channel NewsAsia". Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- ^ "Former Thai PM Abhisit resigns as head of Democrats after election loss". 24 March 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2023 – via www.reuters.com.
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