Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has agreed to return as leader of the Democrat Party, according to former Democrat MP for Trang Sathit Wongnongtoei.

Mr Sathit said on Monday that Mr Abhisit made the decision after Chalermchai Sri-on resigned from the party leadership. His departure also requires the election of a new party executive board.

Mr Chalermchai submitted his resignation letter on Friday last week.

"The return of Mr Abhisit will bring hope and raise the morale of party members in the wake of political conflict and challenges," Mr Sathit said.

Former Democrat MP for Songkhla Sirichoke Sopha said Mr Abhisit was a potential candidate for party leader, and was also well qualified to be leader of the nation.

However, Mr Sirichoke said, the political landscape had changed dramatically and campaigning for local and national elections was more expensive. The new Democrat leader would have to devote himself entirely to the job.

Mr Abhisit, 61, was the Democrat leader for 14 years, from 2005 to 2019. He was prime minister from 2008 to 2011. He resigned the Democrat leadership in 2019 after support fell dramatically and Thailand's oldest political party won only 53 House seats in the general election.