Ex-Thai premier to quit leadership

Thu, 27 Nov 1997 | Source: REUTERS

BANGKOK (Reuters): Former Thai premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will give up next month the leadership of the New Aspiration Party (NAP) he founded, and may retire from politics in the near future, party officials said yesterday.

"General Chavalit said he will resign from the position of party leader on December 22. He is not willing to be reinstated because he wants to see the party lead by the younger generation," NAP spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang announced.

Chavalit resigned as premier on Nov. 7 under pressure from the public, businesspeople and his coalition partners after Thailand plunged into its worst economic crisis in decades.

Another senior NAP source said Chavalit's resignation as party leader could be regarded as the first step in his total retirement from politics.

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