Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is the most popular choice for the post of prime minister under the current election law, followed by Khunying Sudarat Keyurapan of the Pheu Thai Party, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration or Nida Poll.
The poll was conducted on May 8-9 on 1,250 people aged 18 and above of various levels of education and occupations throughout the country to compile their opinions on the best choice for prime minister under the current Election Act.
Asked to name the person they want to be the next prime minister, Gen Prayut came first with 32.24%, followed by Khunying Sudarat of the Pheu Thai Party with 17.44%. The most popular choices were as follows:
- Gen Prayut (32.24%)
- Khunying Sudarat of the Pheu Thai Party (17.44%)
- Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader (14.24%)
- Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, co-founder of the Future Forward Party (10.08%)
- Pol Lt Col Viroj Pao-in, the Pheu Thai Party leader (7.92%)
- Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temiyavej, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party (6.04%)
- Chuan Leekpai, former prime minister, of the Democrat Party (3.44%)
- Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak (2.08%)
- Piyabut Saengkanokkul, co-founder of the Future Forward Party (0.72%)
- Anuthin Charnvirakul, the Bhumjaithai Party leader (also 0.72%)
- Maj Gen Songklod Tipayarat of the Palang Chart Thai Party (0.64%)
Asked which political party they want to form the core of the next government, the Pheu Thai Party came first with 32.16%, followed by the Palang Pracharat Party (which supports Gen Prayut for prime minister) at 25.12%. In order of popularity, the complete list was:
- Pheu Thai Party (32.16%)
- Palang Pracharat Party, which supports Gen Prayut for prime minister (25.12%)
- Democrat Party (19.20%)
- Future Forward Party (11.60%)
- People's Reform Party (2.32%)
- Seri Ruam Thai Party (also 2.32%)
- Chartthaipattana Party (2.08%)
- Bhumjaithai Party (1.92%)
- Palang Chart Thai Party (1.28%)
- Grin Party (0.72%)
- Prachatham Thai Party (0.08%)
Asked whether they are confident a general election will be held in February 2019 without being further postponed, 57.76% said they are not certain, reasoning that the country's situation has not returned to normal; 31.68% said they are confident the poll will be held then, saying that the situation has begun to return to normal, and 10.56% said they are not certain or had no comment.
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