Thai Military-appointed PM Gains Popularity

[Jai Dee]

Thai military-appointed PM gains popularity

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The popularity of Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has increased nearly two months after military leaders picked him to lead an interim government after the bloodless Sept. 19 coup, an independent poll said on Sunday.

Public approval of Surayud's premiership rose to 70.5 percent in the latest ABAC poll, up from 55.2 percent on Nov. 11 and 60.9 percent in early October, shortly after he took the job.

Surayud, 63, was a retired army chief and advisor to King Bhumibol Adulyadej when he was asked by coup leaders to replace ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Surayud has said his one-year agenda is to fight corruption, improve governance, overhaul the justice system and accelerate political reforms.

The poll, based on a survey of 4,195 people in 18 Thai provinces last week, showed 71.3 percent believed in Surayud's sincerity in working for national interests without harbouring personal political ambitions.

According to the same poll, Thaksin's national popularity fell to 15.8 percent from 34.5 percent in February this year and 56.2 percent in mid-2005.

It said even in Thaksin's stronghold in rural north-eastern Thailand, he commanded only 30.1 percent public support compared with 57.2 percent for Surayud.

Thaksin is currently in exile in China.

Some 63 percent of respondents in the poll said the former telecoms tycoon should retire from politics while 8.1 percent said he should attempt a political comeback

Source: Reuters - 27 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Poll shows declining Thaksin appeal

(TNA) - The popularity of Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has increased and now exceeds that of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, according to an Abac Poll released today.

Public approval of Surayud's premiership rose to 70.5 per cent, up from 55.2 per cent on Nov 11 and 60.9 per cent in early October, shortly after the military leaders appointed him the leader of the interim government.

Meanwhile, according to the poll, Mr Thaksin's popularity has hit the lowest point since he was first elected prime minister in 2000.

More from the Bangkok Post here.

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin's popular rating lowest in six years: Assumption survey

The popular rating of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has reached the lowest level in six years, an opinion survey has found.

The survey by the Assumption University found that Thaksin received a popular rating of of 15.8 per cent compared with 70.5 per cent of his successor, Surayud Chulanont.

The survey was carried out by the university among 4,195 voters from 18 provinces during November 18 to 25. The results were announced Sunday.

The remaining 13.7 per cent of the respondents had no comment as to the question whom they favour between Surayud and Thaksin.

Breaking down to regions, it was found that Surayud got less than 50 per cent of support from respondents from northern provinces, which are considered strongholds of Thaksin and the Thai Rak Thai Party. The survey found that 48.8 per cent of the respondents favoured Surayud, compared with 14.6 per cent who supported Thaksin. The remaining 36.6 per cent had no comment.

But Thaksin received the strongest support from northeastern provinces, where 30.1 per cent of respondents favoured him, compared with 57.2 per cent of support for Surayud. The remaining 12.7 per cent made no choice.

Source: The Nation - 27 November 2006

[hammered]

Never underestimate the power of "people like to back the winner".

[jumnien]

Sounds a bit like the "New Light Of Myanmar" polls after they got rid of that pesky Aung San Su Chi (sp?)

[pete_r]

Someone's gotta write the usual caution, so here we go:

- Large variations between polls raise questions on their reliability. In particular the increase from 55.2% on 11/11 to 70.5% on 27/11, that's 15 points in just 16 days.

- The sampling is relatively small, 4,195 people in just 18 provinces, what provinces were polled and what about the other 58?

Now, to add some interpretation, the 55.2% figure of 2 weeks ago was perceived as low, I guess it's "normal" that it went up a bit.

And the competition with Thaksin: "My popularity rating is bigger than yours... So stop getting media attention whenever you go shopping or golfing somewhere..."

Edit - Note to mods: Feel free to snip if I contravene forum rules. I'm not sure about that one.