Prayut ‘favourite’ for top job

Junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha is favourite to return as Thailand’s next prime minister; but the public is backing the Pheu Thai Party to become the core party to form the next government, according to a new opinion survey.

The poll by Nida Poll of the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) was conducted among 2,091 eligible voters in all parts of the country between Feb 4-7, during which the election candidacy registration and the nomination of parties’ prime ministerial candidates were carried out.

When asked to pick their favoured prime ministerial candidates, whether already nominated or expected to be nominated, 26% chose Gen Prayut while another 24% selected the Pheu Thai Party’s Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan.

Another 12% of the respondents said they weren’t sure as to who they wanted to become the new prime minister, while 11% thought Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was their ideal prime minister.

Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, who was previously been seen as very popular among young voters, came sixth with just 6%.

When asked which party they wanted to win enough votes to lead the formation of a new government, 36% of the same group of respondents chose Pheu Thai.

A total of 23% chose the Palang Pracharath Party, which has nominated Gen Prayut as its sole prime ministerial candidate.

The Democrat Party came third with 15%, followed by the Future Forward Party that was chosen by 8% of the respondents.

More than half of the respondents (55%) saw improving the economy as the top priority for the new government.

Around 98% of the respondents said they were determined to cast their vote.