Thaksin seen as real power, Abac finds

Nearly two-thirds of the people believe the real leader and decision-maker of the government is former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Abac poll results released yesterday show.

The poll to gauge public opinion on ‘‘the country’s real leader and causes of conflict in Thai society’’ was conducted between Sept 16 and 21 and involved 2,103 people aged 18 and over in 17 provinces.

The majority, 85.9%, said they had been affected by political and economic problems during the past three months, while 14.1% said otherwise.

Asked what they thought were the causes of conflict in Thai society, the respondents mentioned politicians (80.3%), law and the constitution (54%), the media (51.2%), state authorities (35.8%), the general public (29.7%), and others such as academics and independent agencies (23.9%).

When the question of who they thought is the real leader and decisionmaker of the government was posed, 62.4% pointed to Thaksin Shinawatra and 37.6% to Yingluck Shinawatra.

More than two-thirds, or 67.9%, of the respondents believe there are political groups which have the intention of toppling the government, while the rest did not think so.

On whether the political sector can solve the country’s problems, 54.1% had no confidence and 45.9% thought they could rely on politicians for help.

Asked if they thought the country could attain reconciliation, 62% said yes, while 38% said no.