Re-registering parties ‘may add to woes’
MOST people surveyed by Dusit Poll believed dissolving all parties and allowing new ones to be registered - known as “starting from zero” - would not solve political problems but spark more conflict.
Meanwhile, Constitution Drafting Commission chairman Meechai Ruchupan insisted that there were no provisions in the new draft stipulating that parties have to “start from zero”.
Of 1,257 people surveyed from July 4-8, 73 per cent said “starting from zero” became a hot issue that would spark conflict, while 71 per cent said people must be cautious and not to jump to any conclusion. Some 68 per cent believed the issue was a rumour released to test public opinion, while 61 per cent said the move was a political reform solution.
Asked what the advantages were of “starting from zero”, 75 per cent said all parties would get an equal chance, as they would start at the same time, while 62 per cent said it would help each party to come up with good policies, and 60 per cent said people would be given more choice of qualified MP candidates.
For disadvantages of “starting from zero,’’ 82 per cent said it would create political conflict, as parties would offer money for politicians to defect to their parties, while 67 per cent said it may delay a general election and 66 per cent said it may destroy parties’ policies and stability.
Some 38 per cent of total respondents believed that “starting from zero” would not solve problems in politics because politicians pay attention to vested interest not public interest, while 29 per cent believed it could solve problems by dissolving political camps, old powers and reforming politics. Just under a quarter – 22 per cent – said it could not solve problems because politicians were the same groups of people, and 8.8 per cent said it could solve a lot of problems because parties have to have policies and work more cautiously as new faces enter the public arena.
Meanwhile, results of a Super Poll released yesterday showed that eligible voters in 15 provinces were more confident in the government and National Council for Peace and Order than politicians.
A total of 5,459 voters in Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Mukdahan, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Pathum Thani, Lop Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Chon Buri, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla and Narathiwat took part in the survey conducted from June 15 to July 8.
Some 73 per cent said the government and the council contributed to peace and happiness in the country, while 64 per cent said they help block politicians from amassing vested interests from taxpayers’ money, 62 per cent said they helped stop human trafficking and trade in wildlife, 61 per cent said they reclaimed forests and helped preserve natural resources and the environment, 59 per cent said they were accepted by China, India, Russia, Japan and the United States, and 48 per cent said they solve corruption.
Around 82 per cent said they trust the government and the council more than politicians, while 17 per cent said they trusted politicians more than the government and the NCPO.
Democrat Party deputy leader Ongart Klampaiboon said he suspected Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha may have information that caused him to refuse to relax his ban on political activity. But he said political movement by students had nothing to do with political parties.
He urged the PM to allow political parties to hold meetings, which he said would benefit development of the country’s democracy.
