Many Thais think that the convicted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra is the most influential political figure, while the former leader of the Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat, is the politician most deserving of the public’s sympathy, according to an opinion poll.
A study conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration, known as Nida Poll, involved 1,310 participants from across the country between February 27 and 29. They were asked to identify three political figures they consider influential.
Thaksin Shinawatra, the controversial ex-prime minister, was deemed nearly twice as impactful as the sitting Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
The survey results were detailed as follows:
– Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra: 42.90%
– Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin: 21.91%
– Pita Limjaroenrat, advisory chairman to the Move Forward Party: 17.40%
– Former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha: 5.11%
– Nobody: 10.15%
– Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra: 9.01%
– Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party: 6.11%
– Anutin Charnvirakul, head of the Bhumjaithai Party: 4.27%
– Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, ex-leader of the disbanded Future Forward Party: 3.28%
– Others: 3.21%
– Don’t know/not interested: 5.50%.
When prompted to identify the three most sympathetic figures in Thai politics, Pita Limjaroenrat, who won the election but was denied the prime minister role by the Senate appointed by the military, received nearly half of the total votes.
This was more than twice the amount of votes for the next most selected option, “Nobody”.
The breakdown of sympathy votes was:
– Pita Limjaroenrat: 46.79%
– Nobody: 17.86%
– Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit: 11.45%
– Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin: 10.46%
– Former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha: 8.55%
– Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra: 8.09%
– Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra: 1.91%
– Move Forward leader Chaithawat Tulathon: 1.37%
– Palang Pracharath leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon: 1.22%
– Others: 2.98%
– Don’t know/not interested: 6.34%.
