Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is still the most popular choice for the post of prime minister in the next general election, followed by Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Pheu Thai Party -- but Pheu Thai is the No.1 party, according to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.
The poll, the 6th to rank people's choices for prime minister, was carried out between Jan 2-15 on 2,500 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education and occupations across the country.
According to the survey, Gen Prayut came first with 26.20%; Khunying Sudarat, chief of Pheu Thai's election strategy committee 22.40%; Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader 11.56%; Thanathorn Juangroongruangkij, the Future Forward Party leader 9.60%; Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temiyavej, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party 7.32%: Chadchart Sittipunt of the Pheu Thai Party 7.28%; former prime minister Chuan Leekpai of the Democrat Party 3.28%; Pol Lt Gen Viroj Pao-in, the Pheu Thai Party leader 2.32%; Anuthin Chanvirakul, the Bhumjaithai Party leader 1.20%; and Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam 0.72%.
Added together, Pheu Thai candidates received 32% of the vote, almost 6% ahead of Gen Prayut, the poll showed. If possible coalition partners from Future Forward and Seri Ruam Thai are included, 48.92% of the electorate supports left-leaning candidates for PM, with the remainder split between Gen Prayut, Democrat and pro-military candidates.
Asked to name the top ten parties they want to win the most votes and form the core of the next government, the Pheu Thai Party came first with 32.72%; Palang Pracharath 24.16%; Democrat 14.92%; Future Forward 11.0%; Seri Ruam Thai 5.76%; Bhumjaithai 1.92%; Chartthaipattana 1.60%; Thai Raksa Chart 0.92%; Action Coalition for Thailand 0.56%; and Prachachart and Pheu Chart parties 0.52%.
Asked whether they'd like old or new political parties to form the next government, a majority, 59.72%, of the respondents said they want to see new parties, 39.04% said they preferred old parties, and 1.24% were uncertain or had no comment.