He was responding to the party’s statement on difference of opinion and policies between theDemocrat Party and Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

He said although the party had promised Bangkok voters to monitor the BMA’s work, in practice the party had failed to use any mechanism to check irregularities or corruption allegations in the BMA.

Abhisit admitted that he was under pressure for failure to check the alleged corruption and offered his apologies to Bangkokians for failure to keep the party’s election promise to monitor the work of the BMA.

He refused to comment on a proposal by BMA executives to call on the government to exercise Article 44 to dismiss Sukhumbhand as Bangkok governor.

“The Democrat Party has nothing to do with Article 44 but we have a responsibility to ensure transparency in the BMA. We want the agency to create faith and trust in the people,” he said.

Abhisit said he had not consulted the party’s district and municipal councillors over the issues.