Former Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday morning announced his resignation as MP, saying he could not break his word and follow his Democrat Party's resolution to support Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as the next prime minister.
He announced his resignation at TOT headquarters where the parliament convened to vote for the next prime minister.
Mr Abhisit said that when he was Democrat leader before the election, he pledged that the party would not support Gen Prayut as the next prime minister -- and approximately 4 million people voted for the party while being aware of the stance.
"I could not attend the (parliament) meeting and go against the (earlier) resolution of the party not to support Gen Prayut. That would mean I would break my word... Today I have only one choice: to protect my dignity and that of my party, and keep my promise. Therefore, effective immediately, I resign as MP," Mr Abhisit said. He referred to the Democrat Party's resolution on Tuesday to join the Palang Pracharath Party's coalition.
"I am sorry for these circumstances, that people have been forced to choose between dictatorship and Thaksin," he added, referring to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
