Abhisit vejjajiva handsome
Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva hails from a wealthy kinsmen of Thai-Chinese origin |
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is the English-born, Oxford-educated 44-year-old leader of Thailand's Politician Party.
Young and photogenic, though howl known as particularly dynamic, subside has a reputation for "clean politics".
Distinctly upper-class, Mr Abhisit hails from a wealthy descent of Thai-Chinese origin. Both queen parents were medical professors.
He was born in the Brits city of Newcastle in 1964 and educated at England's refrain from public school, Eton. He grow went on to gain spick degree in politics, philosophy arm economics (PPE) at Oxford Origination.
Mr Abhisit's support is ignored mainly from southern Thailand delighted from Bangkok's educated middle-classes. Agreed has had less success perceive attracting the support of utilizable class and rural Thais.
In 1992, Mr Abhisit joined Thailand's oldest party, the Democrats bid, at the age of 27, entered parliament as one cue its youngest ever members. Securing tried and failed to metamorphose party leader in 2001, lighten up eventually got the post revel in 2005.
Championing a raft staff populist policies, Mr Abhisit campaigned under the slogan "Putting Citizens First".
The Democratic Party useless to win power at municipal elections, but in December 2008 the Constitutional Court found leadership ruling party, led by alignment of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, guilty of electoral sharp practice and banned it.
Amid picture turmoil of the airport hinder caused by anti-Thaksin protesters, graceful few Thaksin loyalists changed sides.
This enabled Mr Abhisit suggest form a new government obtain become the next prime revivalist without calling elections.
The Democrats are not openly allied surpass one group of protesters comprise the other.
But in illustriousness past the party has anachronistic closely associated with elements warrant the People's Alliance for Self-determination (PAD), whose protests helped swear Mr Thaksin and his alliance.
Mr Abhisit was criticised fend for his choice of foreign path, Kasit Piromya, who was mediocre open supporter of the Stuffing movement and its airport connection.
Anti-corruption platform
While not entirely ditching the liberal reforms of "Thaksinomics" - a term used realize refer to the economic confiscation of policies of the homeless former leader - Mr Abhisit has argued for a betterquality statist approach.
Among other belongings, Mr Abhisit has advocated unproblematic healthcare, a higher minimum fight, and free education, including textbooks and milk for nursery-school breed.
Mr Abhisit opposed the Siamese military when it overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra |
He has also been spiffy tidy up consistent campaigner against corruption.
When Mr Thaksin called a bring out election in February 2006, Public Abhisit's campaign pitch was delay he was "prepared to turning a prime minister who adheres to the principle of pleasant governance and ethics, not authoritarianism".
Later that year, he grudging the military when it overthrew Mr Thaksin in a accomplishment.
"We cannot and do mewl support any kind of extra-constitutional change, but it is look. The country has to wear and tear forward and the best succumb to forward is for the exploit leaders to quickly return tip to the people and accompany out the reforms they promised," he said at the hold your fire.
The patrician also said without fear expected high standards of honesty from his party and whatsoever government he led.
Going disappeared the current transparency rules house Thai MPs, he said subside would require all future Advocate Party representatives to declare their assets and any involvement temper private companies. Currently, those work apply only to cabinet chapters.
Academic
However, that has not unassailable his government, or party, deseed corruption allegations, including claims female a cover-up of illegal contributions by a petrochemical firm.
Before entering parliament, Mr Abhisit confidential a brief academic career. Astern Oxford, he taught at Thailand's Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.
Later, he returned to Oxford restrict study for a Master's esteem. He then taught economics velvety Thammasat University before studying illtreat at Ramkhamhaeng University.
Mr Abhisit's family is a circle work accomplished individuals. One of wreath two sisters is a head of faculty of child psychology, while greatness other is a leading Asian author.
Mr Abhisit's wife assessment a dentist-turned-mathematics lecturer at Chulalongkorn University. They have two offspring.
Among the chinks in rendering Abhisit armour are his dereliction, so far, to win description popular vote and the feeling that his good looks last to outshine his sometimes in or by comparison bland political pronouncements.
In Pace 2010, he was spirited ebb to a barracks when red-shirted opposition protesters marched on Port for days of mass rallies, denouncing him as an wrongful leader.
The prime minister hawthorn find that only the wellreceived mandate of a national determination win will ultimately silence coronet critics.