Published on July 25, 2005

A considerable proportion of Thais still prefer Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s Thai Rak Thai over other political parties despite complaints of nepotism, because it was seen as being decisive, a Dusit poll into the state of Thailand’s political entities has found.

The Democrats, meanwhile, were seen as being much more effective in their opposition role because they were proving to be good at providing a system of checks-and-balance.

The poll, in Bangkok and adjacent provinces and held from last Wednesday to yesterday, covered 1,566 respondents, of whom 42 per cent said they favoured Thai Rak Thai (TRT), 30 per cent preferred the Democrats, 16.1 per cent backed Chat Thai party and 11.7 per cent fancied Mahachon.

Of those who liked TRT, 28.6 per cent said it consisted of more decisive leaders who were capable and ready to help the country develop. However, 24.5 per cent said it was too big and that had led to difficulties in administration.

Of those who liked the other parties, 30.5 per cent said TRT had allowed nepotism and corruption, while 35.5 per cent of those who did not prefer any party said TRT was authoritarian and refused to listen to others.

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