The leader of Thailand’s oldest political party this morning resigned under pressure from several parliamentary committees, days after a member of his party became embroiled in sexual violence scandal.
A day after women’s groups called for his ouster, Democrat Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit said he was stepping down from committees he chaired on women’s rights and gender equality. Jurin did not relinquish his party leadership post despite the anger it caused by playing down allegations against Prinn Panitchpakdi, a former deputy leader who has resigned in the face of charges of sexual harassment and rape.
Jurin offered a public apology, saying he felt responsible for inviting Prinn into the party.
“I’d like to express my deepest regret and apologize for everything that happened,” Jurin said.
Disgraced Democrat Party scion to face 6 more accusers
Earlier, some party members had said Prinn’s allegations were a “personal matter,” and shouldn’t be politicized. They included spokesman Akkaradet Wongpitakroj and deputy leader Nipon Bunyamanee. Meanwhile, Suchatvee Suwansawat, who is running in the Bangkok governor election, said he was “confident” in the election and believed that people can differentiate between “personal matters” and the election.
Jurin said this morning that the party would no longer come to the defense of Prinn, the son of a former head of the World Trade Organization and deputy prime minister, Supachai Panitchpakdi.
“The party will not defend [Prinn] and it will not intervene in any judicial process,” Jurin said.
As of today, 14 women have accused the 44-year-old political scion of sexual assault and rape. Prinn, who was running for a seat on the city’s executive council, has denied any wrongdoing.
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