Sudarat is people's top choice for prime minister: Nida Poll

Sudarat is people's top choice for prime minister: Nida Poll

Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Pheu Thai Party is the number one choice for prime minister, according to a Nida Poll released on Sunday. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Pheu Thai Party is the number one choice for prime minister, according to a Nida Poll released on Sunday. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, chairwoman of the Pheu Thai Party's election strategy committee, leads the people's top ten choices for prime minister under the current election law -- and Pheu Thai is the number one party in the general election tentatively scheduled for Feb 24, says a new poll.

The poll was conducted on Nov 20-22 on 1,260 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education and occupations throughout the country and was administered by the National Institute for Development Administration, or Nida Poll. It was Nida's fifth survey this year on the people's choices for the post of prime minister, with previous polls conducted in March, May, July and September this year.

A majority - 61.67% - of respondents said they want new parties with new faces and new policies to form the government after the next election. 

A further 38.33% want to stick to the old parties, believing that with their knowledge, capabilities and experience in the country's administration would allow them to do a better job than new parties.

Asked to name their favourite for the post of prime minister, Khunying Sudarat of the Pheu Thai Party came on top with 25.16%. She was followed by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha with 24.05% and Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the Future Foward Party leader, at 14.52%.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader, came fourth with 11.67%, followed by Gen Sereepisuth Temiyavej, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party (6.90%); Pol Lt Gen Viroj Pao-in, the Pheu Thai Party leader (5.32%): Chuan Leekpai, a former prime minister from the Democrat Party (4.29%); MR Chatumongol Sonakul, leader of the Action Coalition for Thailand Party (1.35%); Uttama Savanayana, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (1.19%); and Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatisripitak (1.11%).

Khunying Suradat came second after Gen Prayut in the four previous surveys.

Asked to name the party they want to form the core of the next government, the Pheu Thai Party came first with 31.75%, followed by the Palang Pracharath Party (19.92%); the Democrat Party (16.98%); the Future Forward Party (15.63%); the Seri Ruam Thai Party (5.32%); the Chartthaipattana Party (2.14)%; the Thai Raksa Chart Party (1.83%); the Action Coalition for Thailand Party (1.67%); the Bhumjaithai Party (1.35%); and Palang Chart Thai (0.79%).

On the election date tentatively set for Feb 24, a slight majority - 50.71% - of respondents said they believed it could be postponed again because many parties are not yet ready for it; 48.81% believe it will not be postponed as the political situation has begun to return to normal; and 0.48% were uncertain or had no comment.

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