Thai opposition party re-elects Abhisit as leader

Thailand's main opposition Democrat Party leading massive anti-government rallies today re-appointed former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva as its leader but members could not decide whether to run in snap polls called by Premier Yingluck Shinawatra to appease protesters.
Vejjajiva, who faces the murder charge in connection with the 2010 political violence, was the only candidate in the election and received 98 per cent of the vote. Party adviser Banyat Banthatthan nominated his candidacy.
But party members remain divided over whether the democratic process should be respected, with the party taking part in the February 2 snap election, or if they should continue with street protesters, who are calling for political reforms to be implemented before another election can be held.

"There will be no conclusion today as to whether the Democrat Party will run," Abhisit told reporters.
The protesters want Yingluck and her brother former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to be out of the politics of the country.
Democrat politicians resigned from parliament this month to join the street protests, which have been led by Suthep Thaugsuban, who was a deputy prime minister under Abhisit until 2011.

The move prompted Yingluck to dissolve parliament and deepened a political crisis.
The Democrats must decide by December 27 if they want to register for the vote.
Protesters have demanding for Yingluck's resignation and handing over the government to an unelected 'People's Council'.

Yingluck has asserted that she will not resign from her caretaker post as demanded by the anti-government protesters. She said she will remain in her post until a new premier is appointed.
She also urged Thai people to go to polling booth on February 2.
Caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan warned the government would not allow protesters to break the law by disrupting registration procedures for the general election.
Yingluck's brother Thaksin was overthrown in a coup in 2006 and is on a self-imposed exile in Dubai.