The largest segment of NIDA poll respondents remains undecided over whom they will choose as prime minister or which party they will support in the next election.
The findings were released on December 14 by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).
When asked who they would support as prime minister, if an election were held today, 40.60% of respondents said they had yet to identify a suitable candidate.
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, of the People’s party, ranked second with 17.20%, followed by caretaker prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai party at 12.32%.
Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, of the Democrat party, is favoured by 10.76%, while Julapun Amornvivat of the Pheu Thai party garnered 6.28%.
Compared against the previous quarter, support for Natthaphong has declined steadily. After topping the poll in the second quarter, with 31.48%, his popularity slipped to 22.80% in the third quarter and fell further, to 17.20%, in the fourth quarter.
By contrast, Anutin saw his popularity rise consistently from the first quarter, when he polled 2.85%, to 9.64% in the second quarter and 20.44% in the third quarter, before dropping to 12.32% in the fourth quarter.
Support for former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has increased steadily, rising from 0.12% in the second quarter to 1.04% in the third quarter, before jumping to 10.76% in the fourth quarter.
Julapun Amornvivat, meanwhile, was polled for the first time this quarter and received 6.28% support.
The poll was conducted nationwide, between December 4 and 12 among 2,500 respondents aged 18 and over, covering a range of education levels, occupations and income groups.
When asked which political party they would support if voting today, 32.36% of respondents said they had not yet identified a party that meets their expectations.
Otherwise, the People’s party led with 25.28% followed, with the Democrat Party at 11.80%, Pheu Thai at 11.04% and Bhumjaithai at 9.92%.
