Abhisit, 44, was born into an elite family. He is well educated, has great composure and manners, and is an eloquent speaker with strong debating skills.
Political base: Urban middle-class, inner Bangkok residents
Political achievements: Abhisit became Opposition leader after the 2005 election. On his website he says his outstanding achievement was the no-confidence debate on the purchase of the CTX bomb scanners for Suvarnabhumi Airport. He was a Prime Minister's Office Minister handling education reform, bureaucratic reform, and created mechanisms for anti-corruption policies.
Controversies: Abhisit and the Democrat Party have been criticised as being backed by the military. They have also been criticised as beneficiaries from the coup against its main opponent – the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party.
Challenges: Abhisit's ability to bridge the rural-urban divide is also in question as the Thai Rak Thai's popularity in the North and the Northeast is very strong. His ability to lead veteran politicians in a coalition government is also uncertain.
