A large majority of people think it is now time for the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) to make changes and Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the party's chief strategist, is the best candidate for the post of party leader, according to an opinion survey.
The Suan Dusit Rajabhat University Poll was conducted online between June 15-19 on 1,108 people throughout the country to gauge opinions on the ongoing developments in the PPRP, the main party in the multi-party coalition. Many people believed there would be a cabinet reshuffle after the government's first year in office.
A large majority, 72.20%, said it was now time for PPRP to make changes as the present leadership had proved inefficient and more qualified people should be placed in the executive committee. Only 27.80% said time was not yet ripe for a change in the party leadership since there were more important problems to be tackled.
Asked who they thought was suitable to be the party leader, most of the respondents -- 54.26% -- pointed to Gen Prawit, followed by 14.36% for Suriya Juangroongruangkit; 13.83% for Virat Rattanaseth; 9.57% for Buddhipongse Punnakanta; and 7.98% for Paiboon Nititawan.
Asked who should be party secretary-general, Buddhipongse Punnakanta came first with 35.76%; Suriya Juangroongruangkit 24.35%; Paiboon Nititawan 13.99%; Anucha Nakasai 13.21%; and Ittipol Khunpluem 12.69%.
Asked how different Thai politics would be after a change in the PPRP leadership, 54.15% said it would be the same; 25.99% thought it would be worse; and 19.86% believed it would be better.