Thai PM gets high approval ratings in NIDA poll

Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is the most popular choice for the post of prime minister after the upcoming general election, according to the results of an opinion survey carried out by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA Poll).
Thai PM gets high approval ratings in NIDA poll ảnh 1Thai PM Prayut Chan-ocha. (Source: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) - Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is the mostpopular choice for the post of prime minister after the upcoming generalelection, according to the results of an opinion survey carried out by theNational Institute of Development Administration (NIDA Poll).

The poll was conducted on May 8-9 on 1,250 people aged 18 andabove of various levels of education and occupations throughout the country tocompile their opinions on the best choice for prime minister under the currentElection Act.

Asked to name the person they want to be the next primeminister, Gen Prayut came first with 32.24 percent, followed by Khunying Sudaratof the Pheu Thai Party with 17.44 percent.

Former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party,ranked third with 14.24 percent, while Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit,co-founder of the Future Forward Party came fourth with 10.08 percent.

Asked which political party they want to form the core of the next government,the Pheu Thai Party came first with 32.16 percent, followed by the PalangPracharat Party (which supports Gen Prayut for prime minister) at 25.12 percent.

The third and fourth positions went to the Democrat Party andthe Future Forward Party, with the respective support rates of 19.20 percentand 11.60 percent.

Asked whether they are confident a general election will be heldin February 2019 without being further postponed, 57.76 percent of the respondentssaid they are not certain, reasoning that the country's situation has notreturned to normal.

Meanwhile, 31.68 percent said they are confident the poll willbe held then, saying that the situation has begun to return to normal, and 10.56percent said they are not certain or had no comment.

Accordingto the result of an opinion survey carried out by Suan Dusit RajabhatUniversity or Suan Dusit Poll, a majority of people oppose a planned protest bypro-election activists on May 22 to call for the government to hold a generalelection in 2018, saying that they should resort to peaceful means.

When asked if they agree with theplanned protest, 52.01 percent said "no", saying that thepro-election activists should resort to peaceful means as it could damage thecountry's image, while 47.99 percent agree, reasoning that they want to see anelection as soon as possible.

Asked what they want to tell Gen Prayutabout this matter, 44.35 percent said they want the prime minister to be opento public opinions; 34.35 percent said he should clearly declare an electiontimeframe; and, 27.39 percent want him to speed up solving problems by adheringthe principle of justice and righteousness.

Earlierthis month, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha affirmed that the general election will beheld in early 2019. The PM’s statement came in the context that anti-governmentgroups planned to organise large-scale demonstrations in May to demand holdingthe general election in 2018.-VNA
VNA

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