Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha on a visit to Mukdahan on February 6. (Photo: AFP/VNA)Bangkok (VNA) – The incumbent Prime Minister of Thailand PrayutChan-o-cha has been the most popular choice for the post of primeminister in the next general election, according to a recent poll conducted bythe National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).
The survey sampledopinions from nearly 2,100 people, aged over 18 and with various occupationsand educational backgrounds, between February 4-7.
Of the ten mostfavoured prime ministerial candidates, Prayut Cha-o-cha led the field polling26.06 percent. He was followed by Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Pheu Thai Party,with 24.01 percent.
In the party race, thePheu Thai, which consists of supporters of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, toppedthe list, with 36.49 percent, followed by the Palang Pracharat Party with 22.57percent, and the Democrat Party at 15.21 percent.
In addition, 54.85percent of those surveyed set standards of living and debt problems as top prioritiesfor the new government to address; followed by 27.93 percent for farm productprices; 4.26 percent for free education up to university level; and 2.7 percentfor the fight against corruption.
Up to 98.13 percent ofthe respondents said that they will choose to vote in the general election,while 0.96 percent said they will definitely not.
In late January, theElection Commission announced that the general election will be held on March24 to restore civilian rule. This will be the first general election in thecountry since the military coup in 2014.
Also last month, theThai Government lifted a ban on political activities, allowing parties to legallyorganise election campaigns.–VNA
VNA
