Global Courant 2023-04-15 20:47:57
BANGKOK — Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is still trailing the main opposition party, the latest polls showed, ahead of the Southeast Asian country’s general election next month.
The May 14 elections will be a battle between parties aligned with the conservative pro-military establishment and the billionaire Shinawatra-backed Pheu Thai Party, led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 36-year-old daughter and niece of two former prime ministers.
The Pheu Thai Party led with 38.89 percent in a nationwide poll by local media Matichon and Daily News last week, followed by the Move Forward Party, led by opposition politician Pita Limjaroenrat, with 32.37 percent.
Prayuth’s United Thai Nation Party ranked third with 12.84 percent.
Former army chief Prayuth, 69, has led Thailand for more than eight years since he overthrew a civilian government in a coup in 2014.
When asked who they think would be the next prime minister, 29.42 percent of respondents supported Pita, followed by Paetongtarn with 23.23 percent, while Prayuth came in fourth with 13.72 percent.
However, Paetongtarn and her party’s other two prime ministerial candidates, popular real estate magnate Sretta Thavisin, and party loyalist Chaikasem Nitisiri, were jointly supported by about 40 percent of respondents.
A separate survey by Super Poll found that there would be no landslide victory, with the Pheu Thai Party taking 160 of the 500 parliamentary seats, followed by the Bhumjaithai Party, led by Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, with 121.
Prayuth’s party was in fifth place with 43 seats. REUTERS
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth is trailing rivals in opinion polls
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