People split on election next year: poll
MORE than one-third of people surveyed by Dusit Poll want a general election to be held as soon as possible, according to latest survey results released yesterday.
Of 1,226 people surveyed across the country from Monday to Friday, about 36 per cent said they wanted the country to be able to move forward by having representatives elected by the people or having true democracy so that the country were accepted by foreign countries.
Another 28 per cent said they wanted a general election to be held after there was total peace and order so that an elected government could run the country without facing political turmoil caused by conflicts of different groups.
Around 26 per cent said they wanted a general election after all reforms are completed because the country could then move forward with sustainability, stability and clear direction.
About 6 per cent said they wanted the country to move in line with the road map that the prime minister has planned, as the timing is suitable and an elected government can work more easily.
Another 2 per cent said they did not want a general election at all because it would not resolve problems accumulated over the years.
Asked what they think about politics in Thailand after an election, 53 per cent said politics would be as usual because the same groups of people would come back to |power and commit corruption; 41 per cent said the country’s politics would be better because the country moves in a better direction with MPs elected by the people; 4 per cent said the politics would be worse because political conflicts had developed |over a long time and were hard to resolve.
Asked how the image of the country would change in the eyes of foreign countries if the country had a general election, 64 per cent said it would be better as people would have liberty and freedom in a democracy and an elected government would be more stable and accepted by the world community.
About 34 per cent said there would be no change in perception because the country still needed development in many ways and the country’s image would not improve just by having an election.
Another 1.7 per cent said the country’s image would worsen because of the possibility of political conflicts after the election and likely political turmoil.
Meanwhile, Super Poll’s survey results revealed that more than half of the people who supported Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha were happy financially while senior citizens were less happy in terms of money in their pockets.
Of 5,950 salary-earners from 15 provinces surveyed from May 1-27, 47 per cent said their financial situation during the Prayut government was better off than when the country was facing political turmoil; 31 per cent said they were moderately happy in terms of finances; and 21 per cent said they were less happy in terms of money in their pockets.
In terms of political ideology, 53 per cent of people who supported the government were happier financially, 47 per cent who did not support the government said they were happy financially, and 43 per cent of people who were political neutral said they were happy about money in their pockets.
