ABAC Poll Says Many Respondents Still Have Faith In PM Surayud

[Jai Dee]

ABAC Poll says many respondents still have faith in PM Surayud

ABAC Poll Research Center reveals the credibility of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is still high.

The center conducted a survey on the credibility of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, Council for National Security (CNS) Chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin, and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The survey was conducted from February 28th to March 21st, and it covered 4,868 respondents from Bangkok, Chai Nat, Phetchaburi, Rayong, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kalasin, Udon Thani, Si Sa Ket, Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, Lampang, Tak, Trang, Surat Thani, and Songkhla.

The survey reveals that 56 percent of the samples still have faith in Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, but only 8.5 percent have lost confidence in him. 35.5 percent however are undecided. 61.1 percent believe Gen. Surayud is an honest and uncorrupted person, and 18.3 percent consider him to have a good leadership presence. 10.3 percent view him as an ethical and moral man. Other respondents say he is fair, sensitive, and gives importance to the society.

As for CNS Chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin, 51.1 percent have a high regard for him. 38.5 percent are undecided while only 10.4 percent do not have confidence in him. 33.3 percent of the samples say Gen. Sonthi is a resolute person and 19.6 percent think he is an honest man. 13.7 percent perceive him as a good leader, 11.8 percent say he is a hardworking person. The remaining respondents see Gen. Sonthi as a brave and ethical figure.

The survey also touched on deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s credibility. 23.8 percent see Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin as a credible man, but 38.3 percent are not convinced of his credibility. 37.9 percent are undecided. 28.7 percent out of the samples that see him as a credible person believe in his principle of administrating the country. 22.6 percent believe in his poverty eradication scheme, and 20.9 percent view him as a capable person who could improve the economy of Thailand.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Heat is on for early elections

Half of Thai voters told a poll they want the general election to be held before September, and would vote "yes" on the new constitution just to end the uncertainty.

Around 50 per cent of people would prefer the general election to be held before September, though they have not decided which party to vote for, an Abac poll revealed yesterday.

The survey, conducted between Feb 28-March 21 in 17 provinces, including Bangkok, found that half felt the next elections should be organised before September while the rest thought the polls should be scheduled for some time between September and December. A quarter of respondents said the polls should come at the start of next year.

When asked what party they would vote for, 57% said they had no favourite. Thai Rak Thai, however, was chosen by 22%, then the Democrats (17%) and Chart Thai (3%).

More from the Bangkok Post here.

[jumnien]

Of named parties, Thai Rak Thai still leads the polls. Let's hope the boys in brown don't here about this! It also emphasizes why they want to dissolve the Democrat and TRT parties. They honestly feel that with the ammunition behind them they could compete against the 3% support for Chart Thai. I'm not so sure...

Edited March 23, 2007 by mdeland

[Jai Dee]

TRT maintains edge over some

Most people remain undecided about which political party they will vote for in the next general election, although Thai Rak Thai is leading the pack among the parties favoured, according to a survey by Assumption University.

Almost 58 per cent of the respondents said they had "no favourite" parties at the moment even if a general election were to be held today.

Among the parties named by those who did indicate a favourite, Thai Rak Thai received a 22.3 per cent approval rating, followed by the Democrat Party (16.6 per cent) and Chat Thai (3.0), according to results of the Abac Poll released yesterday.

The poll was conducted on 4,868 people in 17 provinces of all regions between January 28 to March 21.

The nation-wide survey also found that in terms of reliability, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and junta leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin lead former premier Thaksin Shinawatra by a wide margin, said Abac Poll director Noppadol Kannika.

When asked if they believed in Surayud, 56 per cent of the respondents answered in the affirmative while 8.5 per cent replied in the negative. The remaining 35 per cent gave no comment. The supporters pointed to the PM's honesty, leadership and morality.

Sonthi, who heads the Council for National Security, got a 51 per cent approval rating, compared to 10.4 per cent who said they "did not believe in him". His supporters said he is a good, honest and hard-working person.

Less than 24 per cent voted in favour of Thaksin, whose supporters cited his great management and government policies. Moreover, 62.7 per cent of the respondents indicated that if there was a referendum today, they would vote for a new constitutional draft in order to end all the political disturbance and allow a new election to be held.

Source: The Nation - 23 March 2007

[Mid]

would vote "yes" on the new constitution just to end the uncertainty.

well that's a waste of time , has no-one learned anything ?

[Barney_the_Dinosaur]

"ABAC Poll says many respondents still have faith in PM Surayud"

Well there's no alternative permitted as its a military-imposed dictatorship,....why bother commissioning an opinion poll

and 56% is hardly a rousing endorsement.

[jumnien]

56% believe that the gun pointed against their head is loaded!

[wintermute]

56% believe that the gun pointed against their head is loaded!

Those 44% who have no faith will surely change their minds once Surayud makes them an offer they can't refuse.

[h90]

Of named parties, Thai Rak Thai still leads the polls. Let's hope the boys in brown don't here about this! It also emphasizes why they want to dissolve the Democrat and TRT parties. They honestly feel that with the ammunition behind them they could compete against the 3% support for Chart Thai. I'm not so sure...

who wants to dissolve the Democrats???

[jumnien]

Very sincere efforts by the boys in brown have been made to dissolve the Democrats as well. Due to their perception of very low popularity they seek no serious competition when the "election" comes at some date in the future.

[Martin]

To put this in perspective, it tells us that Thais have a lot more faith in Surayud than the Brits have in Blair/Brown, or the Yanks have in Bush!!

Sufficiency and sustainability 1- Resource warmongers 0.

[wintermute]

Very sincere efforts by the boys in brown have been made to dissolve the Democrats as well. Due to their perception of very low popularity they seek no serious competition when the "election" comes at some date in the future.

They are already stuffing the constitutional drafting process with military loyalists and Sonthi just packed in the military with his boys so it looks like the CNS isn't going anywhere.

[hammered]

Never underestimate that people have had enough of change. Maybe the new charter will sail through whatever it includes, and maybe whatever people think of PM Sarayud they just dont want more change.

The parties numbers are a bit of a joke too with huge factions who will have big support via the usual networks sitting on the sidelines not having formed their parties yet. It is more a name recognition poll than a test of party popularity right now.