Opinion Polls Show Pheu Thai Still Ahead

[bungalownights]

^ its almost embarassing to see the political naivety on display by some posters on here, trotting out the same old tired mantras on a daily basis.

[rubl]

^ its almost embarassing to see the political naivety on display by some posters on here, trotting out the same old tired mantras on a daily basis.

It's almost embarrasing to see new members pop up starting with complaining about other members posting habits rather than posting something meaningful themselves. IMHO of course

[whybother]

^ its almost embarassing to see the political naivety on display by some posters on here, trotting out the same old tired mantras on a daily basis.

I'm sorry ... I left the sarcasm emoticon off.

[bungalownights]

disappointed more than anything else.

[bungalownights]

Poll: Pheu Thai-Democrat rivalry neck-to-neck

BANGKOK, 1 June 2011 (NNT) – Competition between the Pheu Thai Party and the Democrat Party is neck-to-neck in nine provinces in the lower North, according to a recent survey by Naresuan Poll of Naresuan University.

Social Science lecturer Asst Prof Dr Jak Panchupet from Naresuan University chaired a press briefing on the survey. It was conducted with 1,828 respondents in nine lower northern provinces from 29 to 30 May 2011 regarding the upcoming election.

The Pheu Thai Party got the highest popularity with a 23.2% support from the respondents, followed by the Democrat Party with 22.2% and other parties 4.5%; however, the remaining 50.1% of the respondents are still undecided which parties they will go for.

As for prime minister candidates, 31.8% of the respondents preferred Democrat candidate Abhisit Vejjajiva, while another 29.6% wanted Pheu Thai candidate Yingluck Shinawatra. 7.3% of the respondents chose other candidates while the rest of 31.2% had not made any decision yet.

37.1% of the respondents said they can accept it if the political party winning the majority seats has successfully formed a new government without the leader of that party becoming the prime minister. However, 33.7% of the respondents cannot accept it while other 29.2% refused to comment.

52.2% of the respondents believed that vote-buying will be higher in this election while 7.1% thought the opposite. 24.8% of them were not sure while 15.9% said it will remain in the same level.

50.1% said they can accept it if a political party which does not have the majority of MP seats can form a new government with supports from other parties.

42.7% of the respondents were not sure how the situation in the nation will change if Thailand has a female prime minister.

-- NNT 2011-06-01

deceptive headline.

OP is refering to a nationwide poll, this is just a poll on a few provinces.

im guessing it came from a government sponsered source

[rubl]

deceptive headline.

OP is refering to a nationwide poll, this is just a poll on a few provinces.

im guessing it came from a government sponsered source

Over the last two weeks we've had nation and region wide polls. Polls done by various institutes, universities, political parties. All seem consistent in predicting PTP and Dem's getting around 35 - 40% of votes and/or seats, with PTP slightly bigger than the Dem's.

I guess all those polls must have been sponsored by someone

[slapout]

the remaining 50.1% of the respondents are still

... to be paid for their vote.

With all the self proclaimed policemen,election monitors, etc, around already, the old vote purchase scenario may be somewhat subdued. This election the promise of anything the voters heart desires appears to be the plan. It will be interesting to see how this turns out at the polls and more so, the dog fighting for position by various parties post ballot time.

[Buchholz]

^ its almost embarassing to see the political naivety on display by some posters on here, trotting out the same old tired mantras on a daily basis.

It's almost embarrassing to see new members pop up starting with complaining about other members posting habits rather than posting something meaningful themselves. IMHO of course

[jdinasia]

Well from where I am sitting I recall gun wielding yellow shirts and an airport a few years back. Did Taskin get voted out or was he removed? So many questions and so few real answers as you and me will never find out the truth. Relax and kick back July 3rd approaches people ............... then panic!

Thaksin was long gone when the PAD were at the airport. Nobody is suggesting letting any PAD off the hook for their behavior. Thaksin resigned then came back and was removed --- but that was years earlier. Just to help you remember ... the PAD Gov't house action and Airports actions were in 2008 --- Thaksin resigned in 2006. Thaksin was convicted after that .. and has more charges facing him when/if he returns.

(BTW --- there probably were some PAD with guns at the airport --- but the photos I remember of the PAD shooting were after they were attacked on the way to the airport.)

THIS thread however is about some more screwy polls showing nobody (yet) has a commanding lead in the polls!

Not an answer to my question but never mind I get used to it. Screwy polls and innocent Yellow shirts brandishing weapons, well another story,

Your question was answered .. and corrections were made to your time sequencing.

As for your "Stalinist" remarks about the news ... with ASTV, PeopleTV-then Spring News and now another pro Red satellite channel ---- well since no one group controls all of it and some are diametrically opposed to each other ... there is obviously lots of info out there. Some of us look at it all ... which ... of course ... kills your Stalin propaganda conspiracy theory!

[JurgenG]

Over the last two weeks we've had nation and region wide polls. Polls done by various institutes, universities, political parties. All seem consistent in predicting PTP and Dem's getting around 35 - 40% of votes and/or seats, with PTP slightly bigger than the Dem's.

Isn't it unbelievable ? One military coup, one rigged election, an army of (yellow) thugs messing around with total immunity , five years of incessant propaganda, both on tv and in the newspapers, all the heavy weight of the opposition still banned from politic and the democrats "big" achievement is to be only a few points behind the PTP in the polls ... Total incompetence are the words that jump to mind

[whybother]

Isn't it unbelievable ? One military coup, one rigged election, an army of (yellow) thugs messing around with total immunity , five years of incessant propaganda, both on tv and in the newspapers, all the heavy weight of the opposition still banned from politic and the democrats "big" achievement is to be only a few points behind the PTP in the polls ... Total incompetence are the words that jump to mind

Yeah. It's not like the red shirts have propaganda radio stations and news, is it!

[rubl]

Over the last two weeks we've had nation and region wide polls. Polls done by various institutes, universities, political parties. All seem consistent in predicting PTP and Dem's getting around 35 - 40% of votes and/or seats, with PTP slightly bigger than the Dem's.

Isn't it unbelievable ? One military coup, one rigged election, an army of (yellow) thugs messing around with total immunity , five years of incessant propaganda, both on tv and in the newspapers, all the heavy weight of the opposition still banned from politic and the democrats "big" achievement is to be only a few points behind the PTP in the polls ... Total incompetence are the words that jump to mind

In the 2007 elections the Dem's were less successful than they are now predicted to be. As for 'incompetence', I'd call it systematical obstruction and propaganda by PTP and UDD, coupled by the GFC. With UDD still at it 'Abhisit murderer', etc., etc. and PTP promising Heaven on Earth, 40%is about the most the Dem's can expect, and about the most PTP can expect. It's called entrenchment

(BTW one may also say that Democracy still works in Thailand)

Edited June 1, 2011 by rubl

[ballpoint]

If PTP were to gain the most seats, but without an outright majority, and needed the BJT in order to form a government; and if the Democrats came second, but they too could form a government in a coalition with the BJT, then which way would it go? Given that the PTP have already ruled out working with the BJT? I could see the wheeling and dealing going along the lines of Newin agreeing to work with the PTP as long as Yingluck wasn't PM, and Thaksin not given amnesty. Should that happen then after a while we'd probably see the strange sight of the red shirts protesting against a PTP government, followed by the disintegration of the PTP into the die hard red/Thaksin supporters and those who just want to be in government. Enter the Democrats and we're back where we are now. Should the PTP succeed in forming a government without the need of the BJT then it won't be long until the amnesty plan is on the agenda and we'll be back where we were in 2008. "Vote for us and go nowhere, at best!" An admirable campaign slogan.

In my opinion though, if the Democrats did come second, but could form a coalition government with the BJT, then that is what would happen, possibly with a change in PM. That would no doubt lead to more red protests and continued posts by those who fail to understand how a parliamentary democracy works.

Regarding your last point, I don't see how calling for justice under the principle that no one is above the law can be classed as a witchhunt. Even ignoring the war on drugs, the Tak Bai and Krue Seh incidents, following the evidence laid down in the asset case there can be no doubt that Thaksin needs to answer the charges laid against him. If they are worried about biased courts, then why aren't they saying he'll come back and face the charges once/if they form a government? Surely then the courts will be impartial, if not biased towards them? All these "politically motivated" excuses conveniently forget that his own brother in law was PM when he was last found guilty.

Some very good points... thank you. I wasn't suggesting Thaksin should be 'let off' but if the law is applied equally and fairly nor should anyone including the coup leaders etc. Sometimes it is better to have a peace rather than pursue every ounce of retribution - South Africa for example.

I agree that BMJ will likely form an alliance with the Dems and hence the government - as you say this is parliamentary democracy but it doesn't help those voters who will vote for the PT in their millions and probably will have the largest single party vote. So some sort of reconcilliation, at some point, will have to be considered if we are to avoid continual unrest - what's the alternative?

One alternative is for the Thai people to finally see someone with money face up to his alleged crimes and make an effort to defend himself rather than opt for a get out of jail free card. Should he be found guilty, then the sight of a powerful man being put in prison will do far more to change the viewpoint of the common person than flinging money at them in an attempt to make them look the other way has proved to. You can not end corruption from the bottom up, it must start at the top. Look at how South Korea has been dealing with it - it still has a long way to go, but it is moving down the right track. As long as the rich and/or powerful continue to thumb their noses at the law then Thailand hasn't even got the will to build the track, let alone start moving along it.