Majority of voters disagree with party dissolution penalty: NIDA Poll

Most voters want the Constitutional Court to punish political parties guilty of violating the charter with penalties other than party dissolution, an opinion survey found.

The survey was carried out among 1,310 respondents, at least 18 years old nationwide, on November 25 and 26 by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA Poll). 

The survey was carried out while the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its six coalition partners were facing an investigation by the Office of the Election Commission for alleged breach of the charter for actions deemed detrimental to the Constitutional Monarchy system of government. The petitioners wanted the Constitutional Court to dissolve the parties if found guilty.

Similar complaints had prompted the court to dissolve the opposition Move Forward Party in August.

When asked what they think should be the penalties for a party found by the Constitutional Court to have acted in ways detrimental to the Constitutional Monarchy:

• 61.30%: Other penalties that are not party dissolution
• 36.10%: Party dissolution
• 2.60%: No comment

When asked whether people should be able to file complaints with the Constitutional Court directly if they think a party has carried out actions deemed detrimental to Constitutional Monarchy:

• 81.37%: Yes
• 16.42%: No
• 2.21%: No comment

When asked how the executives should be punished if their party is found acting in ways detrimental to Constitutional Monarchy:

• 39.54%: Only executives who commit the wrongdoing should face political ban.
• 31.68%: Only executives who commit the wrongdoing should face penalties other than a political ban.
• 19.31%: The entire executive board should be banned from politics.
• 6.26%: The entire executive board should face penalties other than a political ban.
• 3.21%: No comment.