Starting in Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket, party leader and prime ministerial candidate Abhisit Vejjajiva called on long-time supporters who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the party for decades to help restore honesty and integrity in Thai politics, reports the Bangkok Post.
Addressing a rally in Krabi, Mr Abhisit said people have endured multiple hardships ‒ including a weak economy, falling crop prices and widespread drug problems ‒ which he linked to corruption across many sectors.
Mr Abhisit said meaningful change must begin with restoring political integrity, adding that the Democrat Party is positioning itself as a representative of clean politics to help rebuild economic confidence.
On palm prices, he noted that while the current rate is not yet a crisis, conditions could deteriorate again without a government that pays close attention. He said the party’s income guarantee policy for farmers would be strengthened by more systematic palm industry management, higher production standards and improved product certification to support exports and stabilise prices.
He also pledged a serious crackdown on ‘grey businesses’ and scam networks, saying safety concerns have hurt tourism sentiment and that restoring Thailand’s security image is essential for the sector’s recovery.
The Democrats’ southern tour schedule includes Nakhon Sri Thammarat on Feb 1, Songkhla on Feb 2, and Trang and Phatthalung on Feb 3, before a final major rally in Bangkok.
Meanwhile, Economic Party leader Gen Rangsi Kitiyansap has clarified the party’s internal structure, saying key decisions are delegated to party chairman Chris Potranandana as part of a deliberate strategy to ensure management clarity. He said the party follows a decentralised model and does not require its leader to hold the top party-list rank, arguing that concentrated authority often leads to internal splits.
Despite being party leader, Gen Rangsi is placed 10th on his party’s list. This is unusual, as leaders are typically at the top of a party-list.