More than 40% of the respondents to a Nida Poll say that they want Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat to be re-nominated continuously, until he is selected as Thailand’s 30th prime minister.

Other respondents say, however, that Pita should be re-nominated, at most, twice and, if he fails to receive approval from senators, he should step aside to let the Pheu Thai party take the lead in forming the new government.

The National Institute for Development Administration (NIDA) gauged the opinions of 1,310 people, aged over 18 on July 11^th and 12^th, on the topic “Selecting the prime minister 2023”, ahead of the first joint sitting of the House and Senate to vote on Pita’s prime ministerial candidacy on July 13th .

The poll results are:

• 21% of the respondents say Pita should be re-nominated until he is selected.
• 69% of the respondents say Pita should be re-nominated 1 or 2 times at most.
• 98% of the respondents suggest that the Move Forward party should backtrack on some of the policies opposed by senators.
• 94% of the respondents say the Move Forward party should step aside to let the Pheu Thai party to take the lead in forming the government.
• 88% of the respondents suggest that the Move Forward to invite some parties in the current government to join their coalition.
• 67% suggest that protests should be held to pressure the senators ahead of the next sitting of the parliament on July 19^th.

Regarding alternative candidates, in case Pita fails to receive the approval of the senators, Nida Poll shows that 38.55% prefer Pheu Thai party’s Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the next prime minister, followed by 35.04% for Srettha Thavisin of Pheu Thai party, 6.79% for General Prayuth Chan-o-cha of the United Thai Nation party, 5.42% for General Prawit Wongsuwan of Palang Pracharath party, 4.27% for Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, 1.45% for former Democrat party leader Jurin Laksanawisit and 1.07% for Pirapan Salirathavibhaga of the United Thai Nation party.