PPP extendslead, Samak in front for PM

General News - Saturday December 15, 2007

ACE TO PARLIAMENT

PPP extendslead, Samak in front for PM

The People Power party (PPP) extended its lead in the final week of the Post Poll, an internet survey of voters' views for the Dec 23 election. The PPP obtained altogether 52.05% while the Democrat party scored 40.74%.

But as for the top choice to be the next prime minister, although PPP leader Samak Sundaravej was still in the lead, his score was less than his party's. He obtained 49.05% while Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva scored the same as his party at 40.74%.

Only in the first week of the Post Poll, conducted by the Bangkok Post, did Mr Abhisit and the Democrats lead. After that, he and his party was overtaken by Mr Samak and the PPP.

Other parties and their leaders did not get substantial support from voters in the internet poll. The Puea Pandin party and its leader Suvit Khunkitti got about 2% while other parties and leaders, including Chart Thai and Banharn Silpa-archa, Matchimathipataya and Prachai Leophairatana, and Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana and Gen Chetta Thanajaro, each got less than 1%.

As for the top issues voters wanted the new government to tackle, economic problems, scoring 35%, came first; followed by raising people's income, 22%; and bringing about national reconciliation, 14%.

About 79% of the voters favoured the constitution being amended by the new government while only 21% disagreed.

About 47% of voters believed that the new government would last only two years, while 33% thought it would be able to complete its four-year tenure. Around 13% thought it would survive less than a year.

Non-Thai voters' priority issues for the new government to tackle were bringing about national reconciliation, 40%; followed by boosting the economy, 25%.

As for the term of the new government, foreigners were more optimistic as 47% of them thought the new government would last its four-year term while 25% believed it would be able to stay in office less than a year and 17% thought it would last two years.

Bangkok Post