The Democrat Party is more popular than the Pheu Thai Party, according to the latest opinion survey by the Bangkok Poll.
Out of 1,014 people polled nationwide, 22% said they support the Democrat Party, followed by 19% who support the Pheu Thai Party.
The Chartthaipattana Party was the preferred choice for 2% of respondents followed by the Rak Thailand Party and Phalang Chon Party, supported by 1% and 0.8% of people, respectively. The Bangkok University Research Centre conducted the survey from May 2-4.
The main aim was to gauge the popularity of leading parties ahead of the referendum on the draft charter, prepared by the Constitution Drafting Committee, on Aug 7.
The poll also shows 59% of Democrat supporters want Abhisit Vejjajiva to continue as party leader, followed by 22% who want Asean secretary-general and former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan (22%), and 11% who prefer Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra to lead. The governor has been under fire over a recent spending scandal.
As for the Pheu Thai Party, about 72% of the party supporters surveyed said they wanted Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, former deputy leader of the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, to become leader, followed by 12% who favour former finance minister Virabongsa Ramangkura.