Watanya Bunnag, familiarly known as Madame Dear, leads other figures with the potential to become the leader of the Democrat Party in an opinion survey conducted by National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.
The election of the party's executive committee, including the party leader, is scheduled for Dec 9.
The poll was carried out on Nov 28-30 by telephone interviews with 1,310 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education, occupations and incomes throughout the country to compile their opinions on the Democrat Party, the country's oldest political party, which has been plagued with internal rifts and a leadership crisis.
The party has failed in two attempts to hold a general assembly to elect a new executive committee after the resignation of Jurin Laksanawisit as party leader due to lack of quorum.
Asked whether they had ever voted for the Democrat Party, 50.53% of respondents said 'never'; 35.80% said they had, but not in the May 14, 2023 election; 12.52% said they had, including in the last election; and 1.15% said they had never exercised their right to vote.
Asked what the Democrat Party should do to regain its flagging popularity, with each respondent allowed to choose more than one answer, 45.50% said the party should undergo reform in line with the new political environment in Thailand; 35.65% said it needs a strong leader; 17.94% said the party should screen for quality candidates to run in both national and local-level elections; 17.79% said the party should show its potential while in the opposition bloc; 15.34% said former core party members who resigned should be invited to return to restore the party; 13.51% said the party must restore unity; 8.09% said it should join the government to produce some results; 7.94% said the party should have a capable secretary-general; and 1.45% did not know or were not interested.
Asked who they think is suitable to be the next leader of the Democrat Party, the answers were:
• 27.10% Watanya Bunnag, also known as Madame Dear
• 20.46% Chalermchai Sri-on
• 9.39% Abhisit Vejjajiva
• 7.94% Narapat Kaewthong
• 6.03% Chuan Leekpai
• 0.76% combined for other potential candidates including Suchatvee Suwansawat, Jurin Laksanawisit and Banyat Bantadtan
The rest, 28.32%, did not know or were not interested.
Asked what they thought the Democrat Party would be like after the election of the new executive committee, 36.11% thought it would be more united; 24.38% said the gloomy atmosphere would continue to exist in the party; 18.39% believed the party would further disintegrate, with some members leaving the party; 15.27% thought the party would again not be able to elect an executive committee, including the leader and secretary-general; and 5.65% did not know or were not interested.