Eligible voters in Thailand’s central region favour Paetongtarn Shinawatra, youngest daughter of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin, as Thailand’s next prime minister and the Pheu Thai Party to govern, according to an opinion poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).

NIDA conducted the poll, entitled “The Right Person, the Party I Like”, among 2,002 voters in the central provinces between November 2nd and 5th.

The provinces include Chai Nat, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon. Bangkok was excluded fromthe survey.

The poll shows 24.18% of the respondents want Paetongtarn, head of the Pheu Thai “Family”, as the next prime minister because they want someone from the new-generation to lead the country and they favour the Pheu Thai Party’s policies.

Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat came second in the poll, with 16.73% of respondents saying that he represents new-generation Thais and is a visionary, while others saidthey like the party’s policies.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha came third, with 15.23% voting in his favour for his honesty and experience of running the country. They also said they appreciate the government’s performance and for restoring peace.

Other favourites for the premiership are Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, of the Thai Liberal Party, and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, of the Thai Sang Thai Party, who scored 7.04% and 6.19% respectively. Korn Chatikavanij, of the Chart Pattana Kla Party, and Anutin Charnvirakul, of the Bhumjaithai Party scored 3.10% and 2.05% respectively.

Pheu Thai Party Leader Chonlanan Srikaew, Somkid Jatusripitak, chairman of the Sarng Anakot Thai Party and Democrat Party Leader Jurin Laksanawisit scored 1.50%, 1.35% and 1.30% respectively.

The favourite parties are Pheu Thai Party, 32.42%, Move Forward Party, 19.98%, Palang Pracharath Party, 10.54%,Democrat Party, 7.54%, the Thai Liberal Party, 3.80%, the Chart Thai Pattana Party, 3.19% and the Bhumjaithai Party, 2.50%.

13.99% said they were undecided.