Abhisit Vejjajiva#Family

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File:Abhisit Vejjajiva and Pimpen Sakuntabhai.jpg (ครุยเสนามาตย์), and his wife, Dr Pimpen, wearing a Thai silk dress]] {{Contains special characters|Indic}}

Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva was born to ethnic Chinese parents in Princess Mary Maternity Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/thailand-prime-minister-is-actually-a-geordie-736670|title=Thailand Prime Minister is actually a Geordie called Mark|publisher=Daily Mirror|date=26 February 2011|access-date=2 August 2019}} He attended Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School as a child. He studied in England from the age of eleven, where he attended prep school at Scaitcliffe and then Eton College.{{cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/business/Thailand+hopes+ballots+will+overcome+bullets/4633020/story.html|title=Thailand hopes ballots will overcome bullets|work=The Vancouver Sun|date=18 April 2011|access-date=25 April 2011}} {{Dead link|date=December 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://news.mthai.com/politics-news/178710.html|title=ศิริโชค โพสเฟซบุ๊ก แจงประเด็นเอกสารเท็จ มาร์คหนีทหาร|publisher=MThai|access-date=4 May 2013|archive-date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112030019/https://news.mthai.com/politics-news/178710.html|url-status=dead}} Abhisit earned a first-class honours bachelor's degree in philosophy, politics and economics (PPE), and a master's degree in economics from St John's College, Oxford. While studying in England, he went to Thailand several times, including a gap year trip in 1983 with classmate and future UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the hill resort city of Chiang Mai and the tourist island of Phuket.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aQEV5L6DQg.8|title=Abhisit's U.K. Roots May Prompt Distrust From Thai Rural Voters|publisher=Bloomberg|date=15 December 2008}}

After moving to Thailand, he received a bachelor's degree in law from Thailand's Ramkhamhaeng University, and taught at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy{{cite news|access-date=23 April 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7780309.stm |work=BBC News |title=Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva |date=17 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325235433/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7780309.stm |archive-date=25 March 2011}} and Thammasat University Faculty of Economics.{{cite web|url=http://www.abhisit.org/360detail.php?cate_id=16#82|title=The Official Abhisit Vejjajiva Website|work=abhisit.org}} He is fluent in both his mother tongue and English also having both dual Thai and British citizenship.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/24/thai-pm-admits-british-nationality |title=Thai PM admits British nationality |work=The Guardian |agency=Associated Press |date=24 February 2011 |access-date=25 February 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225054609/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/24/thai-pm-admits-british-nationality |archive-date=25 February 2011 |url-status=live}}

His dual citizenship became a topic for the Thai parliamentary debates in early-2011. He is of Chinese descent{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7780309.stm |work=BBC News |title=Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva |date=17 March 2010 |access-date=7 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208145639/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7780309.stm |archive-date=8 February 2011 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.whoswho-thailand.com/listings/politician/abhisit-vejjajiva.html |title=Who's Who in Thailand - Politician - Abhisit Vejjajiva |access-date=7 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042819/http://whoswho-thailand.com/listings/politician/abhisit-vejjajiva.html |archive-date=18 July 2011 }} and a seventh generation overseas Hakka with ancestry in China's Guangdong province, but his family's domicile of origin is in Chanthaburi province which is located in the country's eastern side near to the border with Cambodia, since his father is a sixth-generation local-born Chinese.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2009%2F1%2F17%2Ffocus%2F3045786&sec=focus|title=Peas in a pod they are not|accessdate=1 May 2023|archive-date=14 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014042756/https://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2009%2F1%2F17%2Ffocus%2F3045786&sec=focus|url-status=dead}}

Abhisit is married to Pimpen Sakuntabhai, his classmate at the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration elementary school, who is a former dentist and is now a lecturer at the Department of Mathematics at Chulalongkorn University. They have two children: Prang Vejjajiva (daughter) and Pannasit Vejjajiva (son). Pannasit has had autism since birth.{{cite journal|title = ประกาศศาลเยาวชนและครอบครัวกลาง เรื่อง ศาลมีคำสั่งว่า นายปัณณสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ เป็นคนเสมือนไร้ความสามารถ และให้อยู่ในความพิทักษ์ของนายอภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ ลงวันที่ 3 กันยายน 2555|trans-title=Announcement of the Central Juvenile and Family Court, Re: The Court has delivered an order adjudging Pannasait Vejjajiva quasi-incompetent and placing him under the guardianship of Abhisit Vejjajiva, dated 3 September 2012|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2555/D/124/6.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801023807/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2555/D/124/6.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 August 2013|journal=Government Gazette (General Announcement and Work Edition, Volume 129, Part 124 D, Page 6)|date=8 November 2012|access-date=8 November 2012}} After his majority, the Central Juvenile and Family Court adjudged him quasi-incompetent and placed him under the guardianship of Abhisit, his father, as from 3 September 2012.

Abhisit also has two sisters: child psychiatrist Alisa Wacharasindhu and author Ngarmpun Vejjajiva.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thaiairways.com/Royal_Orchid_Holidays/Roh_travel_feature/rohweekly-153tharticle-1.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119161053/http://www.thaiairways.com/Royal_Orchid_Holidays/Roh_travel_feature/rohweekly-153tharticle-1.htm|url-status=dead|title=The S.E.A. Write Awards a Thai Airways Sponsored Programme|archivedate=19 November 2006|accessdate=1 May 2023}} One of Abhisit's first cousins, Suranand Vejjajiva was a cabinet minister under Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party and served as the Prime Minister's Secretary General under Yingluck Shinawatra. Suranand's father, Nissai Vejjajiva served as the ambassador to various countries between the 1960s to 1980s and is the older brother of Abhisit's father, Athasit.[http://www.siamintelligence.com/vejjajiva-family/ Practical report–Vejjajiva family], 22 May 2012{{cite news |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2005/05/01/opinion/data/opinion_17221939.html |title=Sunday Brunch: Modern mouthpiece |date=1 May 2005 |work=The Nation |access-date=31 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203085820/http://nationmultimedia.com/2005/05/01/opinion/data/opinion_17221939.html |archive-date=3 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}

Abhisit's ethnic Chinese ancestors were surnamed Yuan (袁) and arrived in Thailand from China via Vietnam, and were settled in the province of Chanthaburi after arriving in the kingdom. The family name Vejjajiva was granted by King Rama VI to Abhisit's grandfather Dr. Long (หลง), together with Long's father Jinsang (จิ๊นแสง), grandfather Peng (เป๋ง) and great-grandfather Go (ก่อ) while Dr Long was serving as an Army Medical Department sub-lieutenant ({{lang|th|รองอำมาตย์ตรี}}{{cite web|url=http://www.amed.go.th/aboutus/palace/name_ring.htm |title=Palace name ว|format=Table |work=About Us |publisher=กรมแพทย์ทหารบก Army Medical Department (AMED)|language=th |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050426064730/http://www.amed.go.th/aboutus/palace/name_ring.htm |archive-date=26 April 2005 |url-status=dead}})

The Vejjajiva family came to prominence when Dr. Long, then styled Phra Bamrad Naradura, rose to public health minister and founded the Bamrad Naradura Hospital in Nonthaburi. The family name means 'medical profession'.{{cite web|author=Surasak Tumcharoen|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigation/28323/a-very-distinguished-province|title=A very distinguished province|date=29 November 2009|series=Investigative Report|work=Bangkok Post|access-date=18 February 2011|quote=This URL has been excluded from the Wayback Machine.}}

Abhisit's father, Athasit (อรรถสิทธิ์) Vejjajiva, is a former president of Mahidol University and a member of the Royal Institute of Thailand.Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand, [http://www.royin.go.th/upload/61/FileUpload/50_5507.pdf Vol. 29 No. 3, April–June 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726145409/http://www.royin.go.th/upload/61/FileUpload/50_5507.pdf |date=26 July 2011 }} After the National Peace Keeping Council seized power in a military coup in 1991, the military junta appointed Abhisit's father Deputy Minister of Public Health.{{cite book|title=Tobacco Control Policy: Strategies, Successes, and Setbacks|pages=[https://archive.org/details/tobaccocontrolpo0000unse/page/165 165, 172, 174]|author=Linda Waverley Brigden, Joy De Beyer|year=2003|publisher=World Bank Publications|isbn=0-8213-5402-7|url=https://archive.org/details/tobaccocontrolpo0000unse/page/165}}[http://lists.essential.org/pipermail/intl-tobacco/2001q1/000423.html Political economy of tobacco control in Thailand] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706175021/http://lists.essential.org/pipermail/intl-tobacco/2001q1/000423.html |date= 6 July 2008 }}; [http://www.cabinet.thaigov.go.th/eng/cab_47.htm Assembly XLVII] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311203845/http://www.cabinet.thaigov.go.th/eng/cab_47.htm |date=11 March 2008 }}

Abhisit began his political career in the 1992 general elections that followed the coup, becoming a Bangkok MP for the Democrat Party. He was re-elected to the same seat in the 1995 and 1996 general elections. In the elections of 2001 and 2005, he returned to parliament as a Party List MP for the Democrat Party. He has served as Democrat Party spokesman, Government spokesman, Prime Minister's Deputy-Secretary General for Political Affairs, Chairman of the House Education Affairs Committee, and Minister to the Prime Minister's Office.

During his administration as Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, he was responsible for the national education act of 1999.{{Cite web |url=https://asean.org/storage/2016/08/Thailand184.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=22 January 2019 |archive-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626110258/http://asean.org/storage/2016/08/Thailand184.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Abhisit was first nominated for the position of Democrat Party leader in 2003, following the resignation of then-party leader and former-Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai. However, he lost the bid in a close election with seasoned politician Banyat Bantadtan.{{cite news|work=Asian Tribune |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2003/04/21/banyat-emerges-new-democrat-leader |title=Banyat emerges as new Democrat leader |date=21 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331070320/http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2003/04/21/banyat-emerges-new-democrat-leader |archive-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead}} Two years later, Banyat led the Democrat Party to an overwhelming defeat in the 2005 general elections. Banyat resigned following the elections and Abhisit was named the new party leader.

In February 2006, then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra dissolved the House of Representatives and called for new elections in April. In response, Abhisit announced that the Democrats and other opposition parties would boycott the elections. They claimed the elections lacked legitimacy, and were an attempt by Thaksin to divert public attention from his tax free sales of the Shin Corporation to Temasek Holdings.{{cite news|newspaper=Straits Times |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_314681.html?vgnmr=1 |title=In for 'roughest ride' |date=15 December 2008}}{{dead link|date=December 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party won an overwhelming majority in the virtually uncontested April 2006 election. However, the elections also left 38 seats vacant in the House of Representatives, because some Thai Rak Thai candidates were unable to garner the constitutionally required minimum of 20% of the vote to hold office. In the ensuing political crisis, Thaksin announced he would step down as Prime Minister, and the Constitutional Court ultimately invalidated the election results.{{cite news|work=Time Asia |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501060417/story.html |title=Thailand after Thaksin |date=10 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513123512/http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501060417/story.html |archive-date=13 May 2009 |url-status=dead}}

The Thai Rak Thai party charged the Democrats with bribing other small political parties into boycotting the April 2006 elections. An 11-member fact-finding panel headed by Deputy Attorney-General Chaikasem Nitisiri voted unanimously in June 2006 to recommend dissolving the Democrat Party, as well as Thai Rak Thai and three other parties, based on evidence that the Democrats bribed other opposition parties into boycotting the elections.{{cite news |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30007710 |title=Bangkok's Independent Newspaper |work=The Nation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116025013/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30007710 |archive-date=16 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|work=The Nation|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/27/headlines/headlines_30007427.php|title=OAG proposes dissolution of Democrat, Thai Rak Thai, 3 other parties|date=27 June 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115032513/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/27/headlines/headlines_30007427.php|archive-date=15 November 2006}} In February 2007, candidates from the Progressive Democratic Party testified before the Constitution Tribunal that they were duped into registering for candidacy in the April elections.{{cite news |work=The Nation |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/02/politics/politics_30025769.php |title=Democrat case told of duping |date=15 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116024853/http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/02/politics/politics_30025769.php |archive-date=16 January 2009 |url-status=dead}} Three witnesses testified that Democrat leaders Thaworn Senniam, Wirat Kalayasiri, and Jua Ratchasi encouraged protesters to disrupt the registration of candidates during the by-elections after the April 2006 election. Prosecutors contended that the party tried to disqualify the election results and force continuous rounds of by-elections.{{cite news |work=The Nation |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30027611 |title=Witnesses link Democrats to registration delay |access-date=23 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224072546/http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30027611 |archive-date=24 February 2007 |url-status=dead}} The defence claimed that the witnesses were hired by the Thai Rak Thai party to discredit the Democrats. Ultimately, the Constitutional Court of Thailand acquitted Abhisit and the Democrats of bribery, and instead banned Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party for the same charges.{{cite news|newspaper=The Nation |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/05/30/headlines/headlines_30035565.php |title=Historical rulings unfold |date=30 May 2007 |access-date=9 October 2007 |archive-date=9 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009004711/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/05/30/headlines/headlines_30035565.php}}The Left/Right Debate [http://theleftrightdebate.com/2007/05/30/thai-tribunal-democrat-party-cleared-of-electoral-violations-nasdaq/ Thai Tribunal: Democrat Party Cleared Of Electoral Violations (Nasdaq)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208184413/http://theleftrightdebate.com/2007/05/30/thai-tribunal-democrat-party-cleared-of-electoral-violations-nasdaq/ |date= 8 December 2008 }}, 30 May 2007

On 19 September 2006, only weeks before the scheduled elections, the military seized power in the 2006 Thailand coup. Abhisit voiced his disapproval of the coup just hours before all political activities were banned:

{{cquote|We cannot and do not support any kind of extra-constitutional change, but it is done. The country has to move forward and the best way forward is for the coup leaders to quickly return power to the people and carry out the reforms they promised. They have to prove themselves. I urge them to lift all restrictions as soon as possible. There is no need to write a brand new constitution. They could make changes to the 1997 constitution and if that's the case, there is no reason to take a year. Six months is a good time.{{cite news|url=http://bangkokpost.net/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=113080 |title=Abhisit criticises, then politics banned |newspaper=Bangkok Post |date=21 September 2006 |access-date=9 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010025207/http://bangkokpost.net/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=113080 |archive-date=10 October 2007 }}}}

Abhisit and the Democrats supported the military junta's 2007 draft constitution on the grounds that rejecting it would give more power to the junta.{{cite news |work=The Nation |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/09/politics/politics_30039961.php |title=Draft gets Democrats' vote |date=9 July 2007 |access-date=8 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813175732/http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/09/politics/politics_30039961.php |archive-date=13 August 2007}} Abhisit said the Democrat Party considered the new constitution similar to the 1997 constitution, but with improvements as well as faults. "If we wanted to please the Council for National Security we would reject the draft so it could pick a charter of its own choosing. If we reject the draft, it will be like handing out power to the Council. We have come up with this stand because we care about national interest and want democracy to be restored soon", he said. Abhisit said he would seek to amend the Constitution if he was named prime minister.{{cite news|magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1655420,00.html |title=Open Road |author=Hannah Beech |date=23 August 2007 |access-date=9 October 2007 |archive-date=21 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221190723/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C1655420%2C00.html |url-status=dead}}

The Democrat Party remained in the opposition after the December 2007 parliamentary election. In a parliamentary vote to select a new prime minister on 28 January 2008, Samak Sundaravej of the People's Power Party defeated Abhisit by a vote of 310 to 163.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/01/30/2003399477 |title=Thailand's king officially endorses new prime minister |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Taipei Times |date=30 January 2008 |access-date=8 February 2008 |archive-date=2 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402100451/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/01/30/2003399477 |url-status=live}} On 9 September 2008, Samak was removed from the post by the Constitutional Court for receiving payment as the host of a TV cooking program.

In the crisis that followed, some Democrat Party members became leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which organised a six-month-long demonstration and seized Government House, Don Muang Airport, and Suvarnabhumi Airport. Abhisit voiced displeasure at the sieges, but did not stop his deputies from their leadership of the PAD.{{cite news|newspaper=The Economist |url=http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12818184 |title=New face, old anger |date=18 December 2008 |archive-date=3 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203142222/http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12818184 |url-status=live}} The sieges ended after the Constitutional Court banned the People's Power Party. Army commander and co-leader of the 2006 coup, General Anupong Paochinda, allegedly coerced several PPP MPs from the Friends of Newin Group to defect to the Democrat Party, allowing Abhisit to be elected Prime Minister.The Nation, [http://manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9520000049093 "สนธิ" เปิดใจครั้งแรก เบื้องลึกปมลอบยิง โยงทหารฮั้วการเมืองเก่า] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701214011/http://manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9520000049093 |date=1 July 2017 }}, 1 May 2009{{cite news|newspaper=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/3831672/Thai-army-to-help-voters-love-the-government.html |title=Thai army to 'help voters love' the government |date=18 December 2008 |archive-date=26 January 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126142045/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/3831672/Thai-army-to-help-voters-love-the-government.html}}

Upon becoming Premiere, Abhisit promised to enforce the rule of law and prosecute the 21 People's Alliance for Democracy leaders who were responsible for seizing Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi Airport. As of February 2010, arrest warrants still had not been issued for the airport seizures.{{cite news|work=The Malaysian Insider |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/19087-thousands-of-thaksin-supporters-rally-against-thai-government |title=Thousands of Thaksin supporters rally against Thai government |date=15 April 2009 |archive-date=27 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227063605/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/19087-thousands-of-thaksin-supporters-rally-against-thai-government |url-status=dead}} On 24 February 2010, government prosecutors deferred a decision for the eighth time to decide whether to indict the nine leaders of the PAD over the 7-month long seizure of the Government House. However, as the PAD leaders did not voluntarily come to testify, the judge could not make the decision and the process was thereby delayed.

{{See also|2008 Thai political crisis}}

When Thaksin called for new elections in April 2006, Abhisit said he was "prepared to become a prime minister who adheres to the principles of good governance and ethics, not authoritarianism." On 29 April Abhisit announced his candidacy for prime minister at the Democrat Party annual convention. He promised a "People's Agenda", with education as the main focus. He used the campaign slogan "Putting People First". He also vowed not to privatise basic utilities such as water and electricity, and to nationalise state enterprises that Thaksin had privatised.{{cite news|newspaper=The Nation|date=30 April 2006|url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/30/headlines/headlines_30002879.php|title=Abhisit vows fresh start, honest govt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208183827/http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/30/headlines/headlines_30002879.php|archive-date=8 December 2008}} Regarding core elements of the so-called "Thaksinomics", Abhisit promised "the benefits from certain populist policies, such as the 30-baht healthcare scheme, the Village Fund and the SML (Small Medium Large) scheme, will not be revoked but instead improved." He later urged that Thaksin's popular 30-baht health care scheme should be replaced with a system where access to medical services was totally free.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13298394 |title=BBC Profile |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128050451/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13298394 |archive-date=28 November 2013 |url-status=live}} Abhisit stated that all future Democrat MPs would have to declare their assets and any involvement in private companies. (By law, only members of the cabinet needed to declare their assets.){{cite news |date=29 April 2006 |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/29/headlines/headlines_30002859.php |title=Abhisit announces candidacy for PM |newspaper=The Nation |access-date=29 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929130841/http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/29/headlines/headlines_30002859.php |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}

Abhisit raised more than 200 million baht at the Democrat Party's 60th anniversary dinner. He outlined several energy policies, including increasing dividend payments from state-owned oil company PTT and using the funds to repay oil fund debts, and having state-owned electric utility EGAT absorb part of the rising fuel prices.{{cite news |newspaper=The Nation |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/05/30/politics/politics_30005236.php |title=Can Abhisit lead Thailand? |date=30 May 2006 |access-date=2 July 2006 |archive-date=7 July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060707021427/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/05/30/politics/politics_30005236.php}} Abhisit later outlined plans to reduce retail petrol prices by eliminating the 2.50 baht/litre tax used to maintain the government's oil fund.{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/read.php?newsid=30092065&keyword=Abhisit |title=Economy to be the top priority for Abhisit govt |newspaper=The Nation |date=29 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616214141/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/read.php?newsid=30092065&keyword=Abhisit |archive-date=16 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}

On 13 July 2006, Abhisit promised to deal with escalating violence in the South by putting problems in the southern provinces on the public agenda.

Abhisit also promised many populist policies including providing free education, textbooks, milk, and supplemental foods for nursery school students, and increasing the minimum wage.{{cite news |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/08/07/headlines/headlines_30010532.php |title=Abhisit pressures PM to TV debate |work=The Nation |date=7 August 2006 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930010326/http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/08/07/headlines/headlines_30010532.php}}File:Abhisit and Chuan.jpg]]Following the Constitutional Court of Thailand's removal of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in 2008 for vested interests by taking a salary from a cooking show while being prime minister, Abhisit lost the National Assembly vote for prime minister by 163 votes to 298 for Somchai Wongsawat, ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's brother-in-law.{{cite news |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30083655 |title=Somchai elected new prime minister |newspaper=The Nation |access-date=23 September 2008 |archive-date=23 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223235544/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30083655}} On 2 December 2008, the Constitutional Court banned the three government parties for electoral fraud, including the PPP, thus dissolving the governing coalition and paving the way for a Democrat-Party-led government. The court also removed Somchai from office and banned him from politics for five years due to his involvement in the scandal as one of PPP's executive board members. He was succeeded by a deputy.

After Somchai was removed and the PPP dissolved, the MPs of the parties which had been in coalition with the PPP forged a new coalition with the Democrat Party, which had been in opposition until then. Most of the defectors were MPs from the Friends of Newin faction of the PPP, as well as the Bhumjaithai Party, the Puea Pandin Party, the Chartthaipattana Party, and the Rum Chart Pattana Party.{{cite news |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/07/politics/politics_30090358.php |title=Democrats claim majority to form government |work=The Nation |date=7 December 2008 |access-date=11 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218033624/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/07/politics/politics_30090358.php |archive-date=18 December 2008 |url-status=dead}} The defection of the powerful Friends of Newin Group came about due to the alleged coercion by Army Commander General Anupong Paochinda, a move that Senator Khamnoon Sitthisamarn called an "Anupong-style coup".The Nation, Question loom over new Prime Minister's legitimacy, 17 December 2008 The Democrat-led coalition was able to endorse Abhisit as Prime Minister.{{cite news |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/10/politics/politics_30090618.php |title=Newin embraces Abhisit, but rejecting Thaksin "was tough" |newspaper=The Nation |date=10 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212032925/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/10/politics/politics_30090618.php |archive-date=12 December 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=11 December 2008}}{{cite news |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/08/politics/politics_30090418.php |title=Abhisit poised to be PM as democrats seek house vote |newspaper=The Nation |date=8 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211101153/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/08/politics/politics_30090418.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 December 2008 |access-date=11 December 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7774676.stm |title=Thai opposition 'set for power' |work=BBC News |date=10 December 2008 |access-date=11 December 2008 |archive-date=11 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211060645/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7774676.stm |url-status=live}} Abhisit became Prime Minister after winning a vote in parliament on 15 December 2008.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7782950.stm |title=New Thai prime minister elected |date=15 December 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=15 December 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215053311/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7782950.stm |archive-date=15 December 2008}}

File:นายกรัฐมนตรี ณ Columbia University นายกรัฐมนตรี เข้ - Flickr - Abhisit Vejjajiva (2).jpg after a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, September 2009]]

File:Abhisit and Mahathir 2012.jpg, 7 September 2012 ]]

{{Main|Premiership of Abhisit Vejjajiva}}

Abhisit was formally endorsed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej as Prime Minister on 17 December 2008. Key appointments in Abhisit's government included PAD leader Kasit Piromya as Foreign Minister, construction tycoon Chaovarat Chanweerakul as Interior Minister, and investment banker and former Abhisit classmate Korn Chatikavanij as Finance Minister.{{cite news|publisher=AsiaOne |url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20081221-109415.html |title=Finance minister from Thai elite faces raft of economic woes |date=21 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105210530/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20081221-109415.html}} Massage parlor tycoon Pornthiva Nakasai was appointed Deputy Commerce Minister.

Abhisit's government saw unemployment increase by 63 percent.MCOT, Thailand's January unemployment soars to 880,000, 17 March 2009 Thailand's government budget went into deficit for the first time since 2003. By 2010, the government's debt had bloomed and reached 4.8% of GDP, the largest budget deficit since the government of Chuan Leekpai. This was likely due to the decades of tense political situation in the country.Trading Economics, Thailand Government Budget, 27 February 2013 To help the people, Abhisit subsidised the price of diesel, LPG cooking gas, and household electricity. Public bus and train journeys were provided for free.{{cite news |date=23 February 2011 |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/02/23/national/Govt-to-extend-subsidies-until-July-30149307.html |title=Govt to extend subsidies until July |newspaper=The Nation |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226114346/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/02/23/national/Govt-to-extend-subsidies-until-July-30149307.html}}

Abhisit's information and communications technology (ICT) policy included increased censorship of Internet sites the government considered deemed offensive to the monarchy, cancellation of 3G 2.1 gigahertz spectrum licence auctions, and larger budgets for government-owned TOT.{{cite news|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/tech/techscoop/30563/last-one-in-again|title=Last one in, again|newspaper=Bangkok Post |date=6 January 2010|access-date=7 January 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE68R09I20100928 |work=Reuters |title=Thai govt agrees $650 mln 3G budget for state firm |date=28 September 2010 |archive-date=1 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001080735/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE68R09I20100928 |url-status=live}}

Upon his appointment as prime minister in 2008, Abhisit officially declared personal assets worth 51.8 million baht (nearly US$2 million). This had increased to 54.4 million upon leaving office. Given that Abhisit has never worked in the private sector, the vast majority of his wealth was either inherited or given to him.{{cite news|newspaper=The Guardian |agency=Associated Press |date=28 September 2011 |access-date=30 September 2011 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/28/thailand-cabinet-millionaires |title=Two-thirds of Thailand cabinet are millionaires |archive-date=1 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001021121/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/28/thailand-cabinet-millionaires}}

In his political career, Abhisit has been accused of hypocrisy. Prior to Abhisit's planned speech at St John's College on 14 March 2009, Lee Jones, a researcher on international relations at Oxford University, sent a letter to the dean of St John's College, attacking Abhisit and his administration as "democratic hypocrites".{{cite news |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/13/politics/politics_30097841.php |title=Foreign academic names PM, his govt as "Hypocrites" |work=The Nation |date=13 March 2009 |archive-date=16 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316095545/http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/13/politics/politics_30097841.php |url-status=dead}} Part of the letter read "Although it is understandable given his education at St John's, I do not believe it is appropriate to ask someone like him to address the Oxford community on the subject of 'democracy'. As you may be aware, the Abhisit administration has only come to power in Thailand following a period of naked manipulation of Thai politics by cynical political elites, including the leadership of Abhisit's own 'Democrat' Party."{{cite news |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/12/politics/politics_30097786.php |title=Letter of Lee Jones |work=The Nation |date=17 March 2009 |archive-date=6 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106091539/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/12/politics/politics_30097786.php |url-status=dead}} Jones later clarified on his website that he had not intended to publicly attack the Thai PM and the event.{{cite news |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/13/politics/politics_30097878.php |title=Oxford researcher clarifies his e-mail on Thai PM |work=The Nation |date=13 March 2009 |archive-date=16 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316100552/http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/13/politics/politics_30097878.php |url-status=dead}}

Abhisit refused to resign as prime minister after a clash between government troops and anti-government protesters on 10 April 2010 had claimed the lives of at least 23 people and injured hundreds more.{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15908365 |title=Angels with bloody hands |newspaper=The Economist |date=15 April 2010 |archive-date=29 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429104850/http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15908365 |url-status=live}}

Abhisit has received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

• 70px Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (1999)
• 70px Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (1998)

• Sub Lieutenant of The Royal Thai Army{{Cite web|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2531/D/193/1.PDF|title=Royal Thai Government Gazette (page 204)|accessdate=1 May 2023|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803044253/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2531/D/193/1.PDF|url-status=dead}}{{cite web | url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/PM-Abhisit-unsheathe-their-legal-swords-30195546.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209032531/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/PM-Abhisit-unsheathe-their-legal-swords-30195546.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=9 December 2012 | title=Nation Thailand news website, thai news, thailand news, Bangkok thailand, aec, breaking news : Nation Thailand }}{{Cite web |url=http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/abhisit-ask-nacc-probe-ex-defence-minister-sukumphol/ |title=Abhisit to ask NACC to probe ex-defence minister Sukumphol | |access-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418195541/http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/abhisit-ask-nacc-probe-ex-defence-minister-sukumphol/ |archive-date=18 April 2019 |url-status=dead }}

• Volunteer Defense Corps General[http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2552/B/008/14.PDF Archived copy] {{webarchive|date=1 October 2015|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001172446/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2552/B/008/14.PDF}}

• Democrat Party (Thailand)

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category|Abhisit Vejjajiva}}

• {{Official website|http://www.abhisit.org }} {{in lang|th}}
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/business/2009/g20/7946122.stm In-depth interview] from the BBC
• {{cite news |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/10/07/business/index.php?news=business_18809586.html |archive-date=12 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312004643/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/10/07/business/index.php?news=business_18809586.html |title=Abhisit's Fame Taken in Vain |newspaper=The Nation |location=Bangkok |date=7 October 2005}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131209040609/http://www.whoswho-thailand.com/listings/80-abhisit-vejjajiva Abhisit Vejjajiva short bio]

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Abhisit Vejjajiva

Category:1964 births

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Abhisit Vejjajiva

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Category:Living people

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Abhisit Vejjajiva

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Category:Alumni of Nuffield College, Oxford

Abhisit Vejjajiva

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Abhisit Vejjajiva