Thai Interim Goverment's Popularity Shrinks Sharply

[Jai Dee]

Thai Interim Govt's Popularity Shrinks Sharply: Poll

The popularity of the government led by Gen. Surayud Chulanont dropped to 55.2 per cent in a poll conducted last week by Assumption University's ABAC Poll, falling over five percentage points from last month's 60.9 per cent.

Noppadol Kannikar, director of ABAC Poll Center, said the poll surveyed 3,224 people living in Bangkok and 17 provinces nationwide November 3-11 on their feelings toward the military-installed government and found that the government's popularity sank within a short period because actions taken by the government were probably too slow to remedy hardships faced by the people.

The government may not need popularity votes from the people because it does not come from political parties but still it needs people's support to implement its projects successfully, said Mr. Noppadol.

He said that the government's policy written on a wider scope and allowing each ministry to independently handle and solve problems of the people does not hold sufficient strength as it is impossible for a single ministry to take the responsibility.

What the prime minister and his ministers should do is to solve people's problems along with good governance, he said.

A total of 47.5 per cent, or less than half of total respondents, agreed with the idea that a prime minister should not hold the post more than eight years.

Likewise 47.2 per cent agreed that ministers should also hold ministerial posts not more than eight years.

The poll showed that 92.3 per cent of the respondents were in favour of having a law on assets seizure from corrupted people, 91.9 per cent wanted to have a law which would give a protection to witnesses on judicial cases and 87.2 per cent wanted to see a law to punish lobbyists who offer advantages to their cronies and capitalists.

Regarding immediate problems, 85.9 per cent of respondents said the government's to priority should be to immediately provide assistance to flood victims, 82.9 per cent said solving poverty and debt problems, and 81.6 per cent listed solving violence in the three restive southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat -- as the top need.

Source: Asia Pulse - 13 November 2006

[brazil]

um

a very interesting next 12 months for thailand

i wonder how the abac poll will read in 12 months time?

[ando]

A poll in Bangkok and 17 provinces?

Wonder what happened to the other 58 provinces?

[brazil]

i would love to have a good guess as to the outcome of the poll in all the provinces of thailand or even after 12 months but my comments will probably have a private message warning me on my conduct

[Plus]

In the first ABAC poll after the coup 86 out of 100 Thais said they welcomed the coup. No one asked the other 60 million.

>>>>>>>>

I think rural folks would not be as hard on junta as impatient urbanites.

[Scott]

I am surprised that they get to publish these polls. I wonder if the support falls further, if they will let them publish it.

[johnnyk]

No worries, GWB is around 35% and he'll be around for awhile.

Being Thailand, I am reminded of Stalin's comment when informed the Pope complained about not being consulted on the carving up of Europe..."How many divisions does the Pope have?"

[younghusband]

No worries, GWB is around 35% and he'll be around for awhile.

Being Thailand, I am reminded of Stalin's comment when informed the Pope complained about not being consulted on the carving up of Europe..."How many divisions does the Pope have?"

But Stalin's comment had a historical twist that he might not have anticipated.It was the Vatican that inspired the Solidarity movement in Poland that in turn led to the collapse of the regimes of Eastern Europe and ultimately the fall of the Soviet Union.

[Plus]

Which took about what? 50 years? Nothing to worry about. I won't even live that long.

[womble]

The initial results from the poll straight after the coup would not have been accurate. Many Thai's would have been scared to say anything against the coup leaders.

Further more the fact that the soldiers were wearing yellow ribbons would also make people less likley to criticise.

These ABAC polls are always hugely inaccurate and should not be taken too seriously although ofcourse as with any poll the results should always be considered.

[Barney_the_Dinosaur]

Running a Government and a country is not easy.

Its not the same as running a corporation and its not the same as running an army, .........where everyone does as they're told.

[Plus]

Polls have been fairly accurate when predicting election outcomes.

[younghusband]

Which took about what? 50 years? Nothing to worry about. I won't even live that long.

Don't know how old you are but you're probably right.Nevertheless take this thought with you to your grave.Institutions that seem powerful and permanent are throughout history washed away to nothing.Looking back, people wonder with astonishment how they were taken in by such shoddy goods, ie second rate self serving people and infantile ideology.I'm talking about communism of course.It was for ever thus and will always be so.

[Phil Conners]

What a nonsense headline 'Shrinks sharply". From 60% to 55% in a poll of 3,224 people is nothing but standard variation.

Thin on newsworthy items perhaps, or simply a political agenda.

Edited November 14, 2006 by Phil Conners

[cdnvic]

A poll in Bangkok and 17 provinces?

Wonder what happened to the other 58 provinces?

I'd say their answers were "inconsistant with the desired truth"

[pete_r]

Running a Government and a country is not easy.

Its not the same as running a corporation and its not the same as running an army, .........where everyone does as they're told.

Spot on.

[sriracha john]

Not that Thai polls mean much of anything, but here's the latest poll from a larger sample than the OP:

Poll: Political situation better without Thaksin

The political situation has improved when compared with that in the Thaksin era, a new survey has found. About 37% of the 4,191 respondents to the Suan Dusit Poll said that the political situation has improved in terms of stability and accountability.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/15Nov2006_news08.php