Democrat Party

The Democrat Party, founded in 1946, is the longest-standing political party in Thailand, and is one of the longest-standing in Southeast Asia as well. Since its inception over 70 years ago, the Democrat Party has held ideologies that oppose all forms of dictatorship, and is committed to the promotion of democracy for the people, and most importantly, by the people.

The survival and existence of the DP has not come easily. The party had to go through political struggles throughout its history that has five periods:

1st Period (1946-1967) Party Building, Pro-Democracy and Anti-Dictatorship

2nd Period (1968-1979) Party Rehabilitation and Democracy Promotion

3rd Period (1979-1990) Policy Improvement and Participation in National Administration

4th Period (1991-2000) Leading Party of Opposition and Coalition Government

5th Period (2001-Present) Combating Parliamentary Dictatorship and opposing the abuse of power and conflicts of interest in public sector

Introducing the People’s Agenda

Throughout its history, the DP has always stood firm on the principles of democracy, freedom, transparency, accountability, and public participation. These principles are stipulated in the Party Guidelines, which have helped steer the party through both highs and lows in the last seven decades, and will continue to act as its compass for many years and generations to come.

Under the leadership and guidelines of the Executive Committee, DP aims to provide the Thai public with a viable responsible political alternative to the populist political environment that has been permeating the Thai atmosphere since 2001. Through various schemes and measures implemented since 2008, especially the People’s Agenda, the Party has been able to steer national development toward a new direction. It uses the idea of “policy for the people and by the people,” which highlights the point that “people must come first.”

The Party has assured the inclusiveness of its socio-economic policy and measures. Programs such as 15 years of free education, incomeguarantee initiative for farming population, debt relief and access to micro-credits, and social and health security schemes had been launched when the Party was in government.