Information AboutAbhisit Vejjajiva |
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| thai chinese | |
| thai politicians | |
| abhisit vejjajiva | |
| politics and government of thailand | |
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A photograph of Abhisit can be seen here . EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION Abhisit was born to Thai parents, Dr Athasit Vejjajiva and Dr Sodsai Vejjajiva, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the United Kingdom . He has two older sisters. After studying at Yukolthorn Kindergarten and Chulalongkorn Demonstration School, he transferred to Scaitclife School and Eton College . He enrolled at Oxford University , where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree (first class honours) in Philosophy, Politics And Economics . At Oxford he was elected President of St.John's College Junior Common Room. After graduating with his Bachelor’s degree, he taught briefly at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. Abhisit returned to Oxford to attain a Master’s degree in economics. He also received a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Ramkamhaeng University in 1990. After graduating, he taught economics at Thammasat University . He is married to Pimpen Sakuntabhai, a dentist, with whom he has two children. ENTRY INTO POLITICS Abhisit started his career in Politics in 1992 as a Democrat MP for Bangkok . He was reelected to the same seat in 1995 and 1996. In the elections of 2001 and 2005 , he was returned to parliament as a Party List MP for the Democrat Party. During his political career, he has served as Democrat Party spokesman, Government spokesman, Deputy-Secretary to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Chairman of the House Education Affairs Committee and Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office. Although Abhisit has high academic credentials, his critics claim that he has relied primarily on his looks to further his career in Thai Politics . For instance, Morgan Stanley economist Daniel Lian , in a letter to Thaksin, reportedly asked "other than his pretty young face, what else can offer to the Thai people?"[http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/10/07/business/index.php?news=business_18809586.html . ''The Nation'', a Thai newspaper, however, while noting his "sex appeal," said that "Abhisit’s ammunition is pure decency unrivalled talent." [http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:CQv_m4ppM6gJ:www.abhisit.org/news/speng.htm+abhisit+experience+banyat&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5 . DEMOCRAT PARTY LEADER Abhisit's ability and ambition made him a rival to Democrat leader Banyat Bantadtan . Their rivalry was one reason for the the Democrat party's landslide defeat by Thaksin's Thais Love Thais party in the 2005 elections. After the election loss, Banyat resigned and Abhisit was elected Democrat leader. When Thaksin called a snap election on 25 February 2006, Abhisit said he was "ready to become a prime minister who adheres to the principles of good governance and ethics, not authoritarianism." The next day, however, it was announced that the Democratic Party, along with other opposition parties, would boycott the elections. At a press conference Abhisit joined the Thai Nation Party 's Banharn Silpa-archa and the Mahachon Party 's Sanan Kachornprasart in claiming that the elections "lacked legitimacy" and were an attempt by Thakson to "divert public attention" from the Shin Corporation scandal. He also said that what was likely "was an election that would yield the outcome Mr Thaksin was expecting...The prime minister does not respond to the intention of the three political parties". After Thaksin party won an overwhelming majority in the boycotted April elections, the Democrat Party sued the Election Commission and started a petition to nullfiy the election. It also boycotted the round of by-elections in the South to elect members to seats where no candidate polled 20% of the vote in the April elections. On 29 April, Abhisit announced his candidacy for Prime Minister, despite vowing to boycott further elections. At the Democrat Party annual congress, he promised an "agenda for people", including free tuition for students. He also vowed not to privatize basic utiliies like electricity and water supply Regarding core elements of Thaksinomics, he promised "The benefits from certain populist policies, such as the Bt30 healthcare scheme, the Village Fund and the SML [Small Medium Large scheme, will not be cancelled but improved." He also said that future Democrat MPs will have to declare their assets and possible involving in any private companies (under the law, only those who take a government position have to declare their assets)[http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/29/headlines/headlines_30002859.php]. EXTERNAL LINKS
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