September 29, 2024: The media can focus on the strange side of things, meaning that reports about some “Digital Wallet” recipients rushing to reclaim pawned stuff or settling debts with underground loaners are receiving extra attention but cannot yet be used to judge the Paetongtarn government’s flagship policy.
But pollsters have to do their work anyway, and seriously, immediately as well as thoroughly.
Pawn shops’ busy routines or illegal loans paid back will not stimulate the economy. It can bring some smiles to poor people’s faces, because anyone will be happy if Bt10,000 falls into his or her lap, but that does not mean the controversial programme is successful.
Arguably worse still, an electoral bar has been set. A promise of free Bt10,000 can look “small” in the next election, and political candidates may end up trying to upstage one another with more and more ludicrous vows, thinking that it’s a good way to win.
Pollsters have done what people think they will do, by the way. The latest NIDA poll is an expected survey on which politician is the most popular in Thailand. The result is interesting, however.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra shot to the first place in the survey covering 2,000 people, coinciding with the “first-phase” Digital Wallet launch. She received more than 31 % support, comfortably leaving the new “Orange” leader, Natthaphong Ruangpanyawut of the People’s Party, behind.
Natthaphong came third with almost 23 % backing. Intriguing is the percentage “in between”. Up to 23.50 % of the people surveyed said there was no suitable leader for Thailand at the moment.
Daily updates of local and global events by Tulsathit Taptim
