Democrat Party พรรคประชาธิปัตย์ | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Abhisit Vejjajiva |
| Secretary-General | Chaiwut Bannawat |
| Spokesperson | Pongsakorn Kwanmuang[1] |
| Founder | Khuang Aphaiwong |
| Founded | 6 April 1946; 79 years ago (1946-04-06) |
| Merger of | Democratic Party Progressive Party[2] |
| Headquarters | 67 Setsiri 2 Rd. Phaya Thai,Phaya Thai,Bangkok |
| Youth wing | Young Democrat[3][4] |
| Women's wing | Democratic Women[5][6] |
| Membership(2023) | 81,426[7] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-right[32] |
| International affiliation | Liberal International |
| Continental affiliation | Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats |
| Colours | Light blue |
| Slogan | สจฺจํเว อมตา วาจา ('Truth is indeed the undying word' — proverb)[33] |
| Anthem | "ประชาธิปัตย์มาแล้ว" ('Democrats Are Here')[34][35] |
| House of Representatives | 25 / 500 |
| Bangkok Metropolitan Council | 6 / 50 |
| PAO Chief Executives (including party affiliates) | 7 / 76 |
| Website | |
| democrat | |
TheDemocrat Party (Thai:พรรคประชาธิปัตย์,RTGS: Phak Prachathipat,pronounced[pʰákprà.t͡ɕʰāː.tʰí.pàt]) is a conservative-liberalThai political party.[9] The party is the oldest active political party in Thailand, it was founded in 1946 as aroyalist party; it now upholds aright-liberal[8][10] andpro-market position.[12][36]
The Democrat Party made its best showings in parliament in 1948, 1976, and 1996. It has never won an outright parliamentary majority. The party's electoral support bases are southern Thailand and Bangkok, although the party's strength in Bangkok has declined rapidly since the2019 general election. Since2004, Democrat candidates won three elections for the governorship ofBangkok. From 2005 to 2019 and since 2025, the Democrat Party has been led byAbhisit Vejjajiva, formerprime minister.
The Thai name of the party,Prachathipat (ประชาธิปัตย์), is derived from the wordprachathipatai (ประชาธิปไตย) which means 'democracy', 'democratic' or 'democrat'. The party said it wanted the term to mean the people in whom democracy is vested.[37]
The Democrat Party was founded byKhuang Aphaiwong on 5 April 1946, but the party considers 6 April as the party's founding day, to coincide withChakri Memorial Day, as aconservative androyalist party, following the January 1946 elections. Early members included royalists opposed toPridi Phanomyong and formerSeri Thai underground resistance members. The party competed against the parties affiliated withPridi Phanomyong and theProgressive Party of brothersSeni andKukrit Pramoj. In the January 1946 elections, the Pridi-led coalition had won a majority in parliament. However, Pridi declined the nomination as prime minister and the parliament appointed Khuang as premier. Khuang resigned in March 1946, after being defeated on a bill, and was replaced by Pridi. The smaller Progress Party later merged with the Democrat Party.
After thedeath of KingAnanda Mahidol in 1946, the Democrat Party accused Pridi of having been the mastermind behind the king's death and spread this propaganda throughout the capital.[38] Seni Pramoj's wife told the USchargé d'affaires that Pridi had the king assassinated, and Democrat Party members spread the same rumor to the British Embassy.[39] A few days after the king's death, a Democrat MP yelled out, "Pridi killed the King!" in the middle of a crowded theater.[40]
By the time of the elections of August 1946, the Democrat Party was backed by royalists like PrinceUpalisarn Jubala,Srivisarn Vacha,Sridhamadibes,Borirak Vejjakarn, andSrisena Sombatsiri. Except for Prince Upalisarn Jubala, all of these figures would becomePrivy Councilors to KingBhumibol Adulyadej. Parties affiliated with Pridi continued to win a majority of seats in parliament. Pridi was appointed premier, but later conceded to LuangThamrong Navasavat. A military coup led by MarshalPlaek Phibunsongkhram later overthrew the Thamrong government.
The palace persuaded Marshal Plaek to appoint Khuang Aphaiwong as figurehead civilian prime minister.[41] In subsequent elections on 29 January 1948, the Democrats won a majority for the first time, and reappointed Khuang as premier. Khuang packed his cabinet with palace allies, much to the consternation of the military. The military later, claiming that they were supporters ofconstitutional monarchy, demanded that Khuang resign. Marshal Plaek replaced Khuang as prime minister.
Although having no representatives in the cabinet, the Democrats had key representatives in theconstitution drafting committee. Headed by Seni Pramoj and dominated by royalists under the direction of Prince Rangsit and Prince Dhani, the 1949 Constitution elevated the throne to its most powerful position since the1932 overthrow of the absolute monarchy.[42] Among its features was a senate whose members were to be appointed directly by the king. The constitution triggered protests among much of the public. It was attacked as contrary to the purpose of the1932 revolution. Critics were branded republicans and communists.[43]
Subsequent elections saw military-backed parties winning the majority in the House; however the Senate was still dominated by Democrats and other royalists. As Marshal Plaek was still premier, tensions between the military and the Democrat/palace-alliance steadily increased. On 29 November 1951, the military and the police seized power, just as King Bhumibol's ship was returning to Thai waters. Although the military's 1952 constitution, which was similar to the 1932 Constitution, called for elections, the Democrats had been practically barred from government for the following 23 years for their anti-military stance, denying them chances to serve the people.
Sarit Dhanarajata seized power from Marshal Plaek in 1957. Unlike Marshal Plaek, Sarit deified the throne, thus removing any advantage that the Democrats, who had previously been dominated by royalists, may have had. The junta did not immediately abrogate the 1952 constitution, but instead appointedPote Sarasin as figurehead civilian premier. Elections were held on 15 December 1957, resulting in the Democrats losing to military-backed parties. Sarit's ally, GeneralThanom Kittikachorn, was appointed premier. Sarit later went to the US to seek treatment forliver cirrhosis. Eight months later, he recovered, returned and led another coup while dissolving parliament, abrogating the constitution, and ruling by revolutionary council. For the next nine years, there were no elections in Thailand, and the Democrat Party was dormant.
Thanom Kittikachorn, who had succeeded Sarit after his death, was pressured to promulgate a democratic constitution on 20 June 1968, and hold elections in February 1969. Parties affiliated with Thanom won the election, and the Democrats joined the opposition due to their anti-dictatorship stance. Thanom, his son Narong, and his brother-in-lawPraphas Charusathien became known as the "three tyrants". They later executed a coup against their own government on 17 November 1971, abrogating the constitution and running the kingdom through a National Executive Council. Beginning in 1972, popular demands for democratic freedoms began to grow. In response to the demands, the National Executive Council drafted a new charter in December 1972, which established a wholly appointed 299-member National Legislative Assembly.
Opposition to the three tyrants culminated on 14 October 1973, when 400,000 persons protested at theDemocracy Monument. A violent crackdown and subsequent intervention by the king led to the appointment of Privy CouncilorSanya Dhammasakdi as premier. The three tyrants left the kingdom. Sanya established a constitution drafting committee, consisting of Kukrit Pramoj (who by this time had established and defected to theSocial Action Party) and many academics. The new constitution was promulgated on 7 October 1974.
Legislative elections were held in January 1975, resulting in none of the 22 parties coming close to winning a majority. The Democrats, led by Seni Pramoj, formed a coalition government in February 1974. Seni was appointed premier, but the coalition was unstable, and was replaced in less than a month by a Social Action Party-led coalition which appointed Social Action Party leader Kukrit Pramoj as premier.
The kingdom descended into political chaos, with anti-leftist groups growing increasingly violent. In January 1976, the military pressured Kukrit to dissolve parliament. Elections were scheduled on14 April. The months leading up to the election were particularly eventful: The head of the Socialist Party was assassinated, theRed Gaur attempted to bomb the headquarters of theNew Force Party (a leftist party), and theChart Thai Party was established with the slogan "Right Kills Left". Seni Pramoj's Democrats won the most seats in the election, and formed an unstable coalition government.
Seni's government came under great pressure. A bill to extend elections to local levels was passed by parliament 149-19, but the king refused to sign the bill or return it to parliament, effectively vetoing it.[44] As anti-leftist sentiments mounted,Praphas Charusathien returned shortly from exile and met the king. Students protesting Praphas' return were attacked byRed Gaur paramilitary units. On 19 September 1976, Thanom also returned from exile and was immediately ordained as a monk at Wat Bovornives. Massive protests erupted. The king and queen returned from a trip to the south and visited monk Thanom, leading Seni to resign from the premiership in protest. His resignation was refused by parliament, but initial attempts to reshuffle his cabinet were vetoed by the king.[45] The political tension finally culminated in the6 October 1976 massacre, whenVillage Scouts and Red Gaur joined with some military and police to massacre at least 46 students protesting atThammasat University.[46] That evening, the military seized power and installed hard-line royalist Tanin Kraivixien as premier.
The military coup to restore order was endorsed by the king, who declared it was "a manifestation of what the people clearly wanted."[47] The new constitution did not express any obligation for the government to have a cabinet or elections, and gave the premier near-absolute powers.
The Democrat Party, being led byBhichai Rattakul, became an outspoken opponent ofmilitary rule inThai politics during the 1990s. The Democrat Party was the key member of the "People Power" movement in1992.
The party's voter base is traditionally concentrated insouthern Thailand and inBangkok, where the party relies on the support from the capital'saristocratic,meritocratic, and educatedmiddle andupper classes. In the 1990s, under the leadership ofChuan Leekpai, a native ofTrang Province, the Democrats quickly became the dominant party insouthern Thailand. The influences of provincial politicians from the south into the party created considerable tension with the party'sBangkok establishment. Chuan's "Mr. Clean" image, however, made him personally popular with Democrat Party supporters throughout Thailand, and so the party managed to stay cohesive under his leadership. The first Chuan government (1992–1995) fell when members of the cabinet were implicated in profiting from the Sor Phor Kor 4-01 land project documents distributed in Phuket Province.[48] Chuan was again premier from 1997 to 2001, in the midst of the1997 Asian financial crisis and its aftermath. The party lost a landslide election victory toThaksin Shinawatra'spopulistThai Rak Thai (TRT) party, winning 128 seats compared to the TRT's 248 in the2001 general election.
After the election in 2001, Thaksin Shinawatra the leader of Thai Rak Thai Party, became prime minister. New Aspiration Party has joined the government. Shortly thereafter. TheNew Aspiration Party was merged with theThai Rak Thai Party. Mostly to join Thai Rak Thai party (the governing party) with Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh except Lieutenant Colonel Thita Rangsitpol Manitkul, WRTA Member of the Parliament and Deputy Secretary of the party. Offset to the Democrat Party (Thailand) (Opposition Party) remains the only MPs moving from the opposition party government. During her tenure as a member of the House of Representatives.[49]
In 2003, Chuan retired from his position as party leader.Banyat Bantadtan, a southerner and a close aide to Chuan, succeeded him after a closely fought leadership contest with Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Democrat Party's candidateApirak Kosayothin won the2004 Bangkok gubernatorial election; the TRT Party did not submit a candidate. The Democrat Party lost further ground to Thai Rak Thai in the2005 general election. In the election campaign, the Democrats had a populist platform, promoting job creation, universal education and health care, and law and order against crime and corruption.[50] The party aimed to gain 201 seats, enough to launch a vote of a no confidence debate against the premier. They won 96 of 500 seats and 18.3 percent of the popular vote. The party's leader,Banyat Bantadtan, resigned after the election.
On 6 March 2005, Abhisit Vejjajiva was elected new party leader. Upon succeeding the party's leadership from Banyat, Abhisit noted, "It will take a long time to revive the party because we need to look four years ahead and consider how to stay in the hearts of the people."
The popularity of thepopulistThai Rak Thai Party in Thai politics from 2001 to 2006 presented new challenges to the Democrat Party. The TRT championedpopulist policies with its focus on providing affordable and quality health care for all citizens, village-managedmicrocredit development funds, the government-sponsoredOne Tambon One Product program, and others. The populist policies earned the TRT enormous support from rural constituencies, unprecedented in Thailand's history.
Opposition to the TRT government rose in Bangkok after Thaksin's family announced their tax-free sale of their 49.6 percent stake in Shin Corp to Temasek for almost 73.3 billion baht on 23 January 2006. ThePeople's Alliance for Democracy began a series of anti-government protests. Several Democrat Party leaders also joined the PAD,[51] which accused Thaksin of disloyalty to the throne and asked King Bhumibol to appoint a replacement prime minister. Thaksin Shinawatra dissolved theHouse of Representatives on 24 February 2006 and called for an election. On24 March 2006, Abhisit Vejjajiva publicly backed thePeople's Alliance for Democracy's call for a royally-appointed government. Bhumibol, in a speech on 26 April 2006, responded, "Asking for a royally-appointed prime minister is undemocratic. It is, pardon me, a mess. It is irrational".[52]
Abhisit and his opposition parties allies boycotted theApril 2006 elections, claiming it "diverted public attention" from Thaksin's corruption charges and his sale ofShin Corp.[53] The boycott caused a constitutional crisis, prompting Thaksin to call another round of elections in October 2006, which the Democrats did not boycott. The army seized power on 19 September and cancelled the upcoming election.
Abhisit voiced displeasure at the2006 coup that overthrew Thaksin, but otherwise did not protest it or themilitary junta that ruled Thailand for over a year. A fact-finding panel at the attorney-general's office found that the Democrat Party bribed other parties to boycott theApril 2006 parliamentary election, which forced aconstitutional crisis, and voted to dissolve the party. It also found that Thaksin'sThai Rak Thai party bribed other parties to contest the election. A junta tribunal acquitted Abhisit and the Democrats of the vote fraud charges, but convicted and banned the Thai Rak Thai party and its entire executive team.
Abhisit supported the junta's2007 Constitution, calling it an improvement on the1997 constitution.[54] The military junta organized general elections for 23 December 2007.
Despite being banned from politics for five years,Thaksin Shinawatra was popular in his former support bases in the central, north, and northeastern regions and attempted to maintain an active role in Thai politics by supporting thePeople's Power Party, which had become the successor party of the banned TRT. Abhisit promoted populist policies in his party's campaign as the Democrat Party's platform in the2007 parliamentary election. He claimed that while his platform was categorically considered to be populist, it sought to curb inflation while maintaining fiscal soundness, to apply the village-basedmicrocredit development funds used in the Thaksin-led government, but do it as part of promoting royalistsufficiency economy policies in rural areas, and to strengthen the country's long-term competitiveness through universal education through high school.
In the junta-administered2007 parliamentary election, the People's Power Party won the largest share of the vote and formed a six-party coalition government. The Democrats' populist platform was poorly received in the central, north, and northeastern regions. The Democrat Party became the opposition party as it was the second-largest party in the House of Representatives.
The People's Alliance for Democracy resurfaced to destabilize the People's Power government, after having gone dormant following the 2006 coup. Several Democrat Party leaders allied themselves with PAD in the subsequent2008–2010 Thai political crisis. PAD organized extended street protests and later led a months-long seizure of Government House, the seat of Thai government. In November 2008, PAD supporters seized and occupiedDon Muang Airport andSuvarnabhumi Airport.
PAD declared that the only person they would accept as premier was Abhisit of the Democrat Party.[55] Abhisit disapproved of the sieges, but did not stop his deputies from their PAD involvement.[56]
.jpg)
The sieges ended when the constitutional court banned the People's Power Party and two of its coalition allies. During the critical period that followed the rulings, it is alleged that army commander and co-leader of the 2006 coup, GeneralAnupong Paochinda, coerced former PPP MPs, mainly those of theFriends of Newin Group, to endorse a Democrat Party-led coalition, which secured enough parliamentary votes to allow Abhisit to be elected prime minister. These MPs, along with MPs of four other former PPP-coalition parties, crossed the aisle to endorse a Democrat-led coalition government. In a December 2008 parliamentary session, theDemocrat-led coalition government was voted upon, with 235 to 198 votes in favor of Democrat Party leader and candidate for PM Abhisit Vejjajiva.[57][58]
DuringSongkran (Thai New Year),anti-government UDD protesters disrupted theFourth East Asia Summit.[59] Violent protests then erupted in Bangkok, leading Abhisit to declare astate of emergency for three days, censoring the media, and using military force to end the protests.
Soon afterward,PAD leaderSondhi Limthongkul was the target of an unsuccessful assassination attempt. Both Sondhi's son and Thaksin claimed that factions within the Democrat government were behind the assassination. Abhisit's foreign minister counter-claimed that Thaksin was behind it.[60][61][62]
Abhisit dissolved parliament in early-2011 and scheduled general elections for 3 July 2011. Abhisit unveiled a slate of candidates highlighted by 30 celebrities and heirs of political families, includingChitpas Bhirombhakdi, heiress of theSingha Beer fortune and former staff member of Abhisit's secretariat office.[63] Abhisit promised to increase theminimum wage by 25 percent if the Democrat Party won the election.[64]
At thegeneral election on 3 July 2011, the Democrats were only able to defend 159 seats in the House of Representatives, while rivalingPheu Thai Party led byYingluck Shinawatra won an outright majority. The next day, Abhisit stepped down as the party leader.[65] However, on 6 August, he was re-elected as the leader of the Democrat Party with the support of 96 percent of those eligible to vote at the party's assembly—some 330 people including local branch leaders and MPs.[66]
In 2018, the Democrats held a contest for party leader in preparation for theupcoming election. Abhisit was re-elected party leader, beating formerPDRC leader, Warong Dechgitvigrom, by approximately 10,000 votes.[67]
Abhisit said that the Democrats would not form a government withPhalang Pracharat, the most prominent pro-junta party. Additionally, he said the Democrats would not supportPrayut Chan-o-cha for Prime Minister.[68] These statements was met with skepticism from both the junta and the media.
In April, Prayut responded by saying that he expected the Democrats to change their stance and work with the junta after the election.[69] Additionally, many commentators predicted Democrats would form a government coalition with Phalang Pracharat.[70]
The 2019 election proved to be a major upset to the party, which came in fourth place and won no seats in its traditional stronghold of Bangkok, leading to Abhisit resigning as party leader, having stated previously that he would do so if the party won fewer than 100 seats.[71]Jurin Laksanawisit was elected to succeed him on 15 May.[72] The Democrats then formed a pact with theBhumjaithai Party, intending to use their combined 103 MPs as leverage for negotiations with other parties.[73] At the first meeting of the new parliament, Democrat ex-prime minister Chuan was nominated speaker of the House of Representatives by PPRP deputy leader Nataphol Teepsuwan and was elected to that office. This move was seen by commentators as a signal that a deal had been reached and a coalition with the Phalang Pracharat party was imminent.[74] The coalition was finally made official on 4 June, one day before the National Assembly was scheduled to vote for the prime minister, following a vote by party MPs and executives.[75] Following this, Abhisit resigned as MP, stating that he could not break his previous stance on not supporting Phalang Pracharat.[76]
Prinn Panitchpakdi, deputy leader of the Democrat Party was accused of many sexual misconduct cases, including rape.[77] Senior executives such as Kanok Wongtra-ngan and Mallika Boonmeetrakul Mahasuk left the party for a moral responsibility.[78]
The2023 election proved another setback to the party, which slipped further down to sixth place with only 25 MPs,[79] prompting the resignation of party leader Jurin.[80] The Democrats once again won no seats in its traditional stronghold of Bangkok and received only 2.68% of the party-list vote in the capital. This is likely due to conservatives voting for the military-backedUnited Thai Nation while the educated middle class (once the Democrats’ core voter base) moved to the progressiveMove Forward Party. Furthermore, the party lost ground in the historically Democrat southern provinces to other conservative parties.[81][82]
During the 2nd prime ministership election, 16 out of 25 Democrat MPs voted for the Pheu Thai candidateSrettha Thavisin despite agreeing to abstain. This caused a divide between the “New Democrat” MPs (who are more open to working with Pheu Thai) and the “Old Guard” MPs (who still view Pheu Thai as their historical rival.)
On 9 December 2023, a meeting was held to choose the party's new leader with four candidates running for leadership — former prime ministerAbhisit Vejjajiva, the party's acting leaderChalermchai Sri-on, former Democrat MP Lt-Colonel Thita Rangsitpol Manitkul[83] former MP and businesswomanWatanya “Madame Dear” Bunnag. Before the actual leadership vote was held, Watanya was forced out of the race due to not meeting the requirements which led to her immediately leaving the meeting in tears. After a brief chat between Abhisit and Chalermchai, Abhisit announced his decision to withdraw his candidacy and leave the party altogether. The meeting resulted in Chalermchai Sri-on being elected as the Democrat Party's new leader.[84][85]
Chalermchai Sri-on resigned as leader of the Democrat Party on 12 September 2025, citing health reasons.[86] On 18 October,Abhisit Vejjajiva, former party leader and the 27thPrime Minister of Thailand was elected a day after he rejoined the party.
| Name | Portrait | Periods in Office | Participated Election |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khuang Aphaiwong | .jpg) | 1 August 1944 – 31 August 1945 31 January 1946 – 24 March 1946 10 November 1947 – 8 April 1948 | 1946; 1947–1948 |
| Seni Pramoj |  | 17 September 1945 – 31 January 1946 15 February 1975 – 13 March 1975 20 April 1976 – 6 October 1976 | 1975; 1976 |
| Chuan Leekpai |  | 20 September 1992 – 19 May 1995 9 November 1997 – 9 February 2001 | 1992,1995,1996,1997,2001 |
| Abhisit Vejjajiva |  | 17 December 2008 – 5 August 2011[a] | 2007,2008,2011,2019 |
| Election | Total seats won | Total votes | Share of votes | Seat change | Outcome of election | Election leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 (Aug) | 18 / 82 | Opposition | Khuang Aphaiwong | |||
| 1948 | 54 / 186 |  36 seats | Governing party (until 1948) | Khuang Aphaiwong[87] | ||
| Opposition (after 1948) | ||||||
| 1952 | 0 / 246 |  54 seats | Boycotted | Khuang Aphaiwong | ||
| 1957 (Feb) | 31 / 283 | 31 seats | Opposition | Khuang Aphaiwong | ||
| 1957 (Dec) | 39 / 281 | 9 seats | Opposition | Khuang Aphaiwong | ||
| 1969 | 57 / 219 | 18 seats | Opposition | Seni Pramoj | ||
| 1975 | 72 / 269 | 3,176,398 | 17.2% | 15 seats | Governing coalition (until 1975) | Seni Pramoj |
| Opposition (after 1975) | ||||||
| 1976 | 114 / 279 | 4,745,990 | 25.3% | 43 seats | Governing coalition | Seni Pramoj |
| 1979 | 33 / 301 | 2,865,248 | 14.6% | 81 seats | Opposition (until 1980) | Seni Pramoj |
| Junior partner in governing coalition (after 1980) | ||||||
| 1983 | 56 / 324 | 4,144,414 | 15.6% | 23 seats | Junior partner in governing coalition | Bhichai Rattakul |
| 1986 | 100 / 347 | 8,477,701 | 22.5% | 44 seats | Junior partner in governing coalition | Bhichai Rattakul |
| 1988 | 48 / 357 | 4,456,077 | 19.3% | 52 seats | Junior partner in governing coalition (until 1990) | Bhichai Rattakul |
| Opposition (after 1990) | ||||||
| 1992 (Mar) | 44 / 360 | 4,705,376 | 10.6% | 4 seats | Opposition | Chuan Leekpai |
| 1992 (Sep) | 79 / 360 | 9,703,672 | 21.0% | 35 seats | Governing coalition | Chuan Leekpai |
| 1995 | 86 / 391 | 12,325,423 | 22.3% | 7 seats | Opposition | Chuan Leekpai |
| 1996 | 123 / 393 | 18,087,006 | 31.8% | 37 seats | Opposition (until 1997) | Chuan Leekpai |
| Governing coalition (after 1997) | ||||||
| 2001 | 128 / 500 | 7,610,789 | 26.6% | 5 seats | Opposition | Chuan Leekpai |
| 2005 | 96 / 500 | 4,018,286 | 16.1% | 32 seats | Opposition | Banyat Bantadtan |
| 2006 | 0 / 500 | 0 | 0% | Boycotted – nullified | Abhisit Vejjajiva | |
| 2007 | 165 / 480 | 14,084,265 | 39.63% | 69 seats | Opposition (until 2008) | Abhisit Vejjajiva |
| Governing coalition (after 2008) | ||||||
| 2011 | 159 / 500 | 11,433,762 | 35.15% | 14 seats | Opposition | Abhisit Vejjajiva |
| 2014 | 0 / 500 | Invalidated | Invalidated | Boycotted – nullified | Abhisit Vejjajiva | |
| 2019 | 53 / 500 | 3,947,726 | 11.11% | 106 seats | Junior partner in governing coalition | Abhisit Vejjajiva |
| 2023 | 25 / 500 | 925,349 | 2.29% | 28 seats | Opposition (until 2024) | Jurin Laksanawisit |
| Junior partner in governing coalition (after 2024) |
| Election | Candidate | Total votes | Share of votes | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Thammanoon Thien-ngern | 99,247 | 39.13% | Elected Y |
| 1985 | Chana Rungsang | 241,001 | 25.35% | Lost N |
| 1990 | Pravit Ruchirawong | 60,947 | 5.50% | LostN |
| 1992 | Bhichit Rattakul | 305,740 | 40.39% | LostN |
| 1996 | SupportedBhichit Rattakul | 768,994 | 49.47% | ElectedY |
| 2000 | Thawatchai Sajakul | 247,650 | 11.17% | LostN |
| 2004 | Apirak Kosayodhin | 911,441 | 38.20% | ElectedY |
| 2008 | Apirak Kosayodhin | 991,018 | 45.93% | ElectedY |
| 2009 | Sukhumbhand Paribatra | 934,602 | 44.41% | ElectedY |
| 2013 | Sukhumbhand Paribatra | 1,256,349 | 47.75% | ElectedY |
| 2022 | Suchatvee Suwansawat | 254,723 | 9.60% | LostN |
| Election | Total seats won | Total votes | Share of votes | Seat change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 35 / 54 | 35 seats | ||
| 1990 | 1 / 57 | 34 seats | ||
| 1994 | 8 / 55 | 7 seats | ||
| 1998 | 22 / 60 | 14 seats | ||
| 2002 | 30 / 61 | 8 seats | ||
| 2006 | 34 / 57 | 4 seats | ||
| 2010 | 45 / 61 | 10 seats | ||
| 2022 | 9 / 50 | 348,852 | 15.06% | 36 seats |
| Election | Total seats won | Total votes | Share of votes | Seat change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 289 / 361 | 289 seats |
ขณะนั้นมีสมาชิกสภา ฯ หลายนายได้ประชุมกันจัดตั้งพรรคขึ้น มี ม.ร.ว. คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช นายเลียง ไชยกาล นายปริญญา จุฑามาศ นายสุวิช พันธเศรษฐ นายโชติ คุ้มพันธ์ นายชวลิต อภัยวงศ์ นายอินฑูร วรกุล นายบุญแท่ง ทองสวัสดิ์ และนายฟอง สิทธิธรรม เป็นผู้ริเริ่มตั้งพรรค โดย ม.ร.ว. คึกฤทธิ์ เอาพรรคก้าวหน้าของตนมารวมกับพรรคประชาธิปไตยของ ดร. โชติ คุ้มพันธ์ แล้วให้ชื่อว่า พรรคประชาธิปัตย์
Of the four ruling coalition parties in 1987, the Democrat Party was considered to be somewhat liberal, despite its beginning in 1946 as a conservative, monarchist party.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's ruling Democrat Party was founded in 1946. It is conservative, pro-monarchy and establishment, backed by the military and most of the Bangkok-based elite.
Its chief motivator is long-time yellow shirt Warong Dechgitvigrom, who was previously associated with the royalist Democrat Party and the PDRC.
Samyutta Nikaya 452- 5.1.189.
พรรคประชาธิปัตย์ เปิดตัวเพลงประจำพรรคที่ดัดแปลงเพิ่มเติมจากเพลงเดิมคือ "ประชาธิปัตย์มาแล้ว" เป็นชื่อเพลงใหม่ ประชาธิปัตย์มาแล้ว 2562
.svg)
