Most people still prefer Pita for PM regardless of how long it takes: NIDA Poll

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

MOST PEOPLE HAVE BEEN found to still endorse Move Forward leader/prime minister-designate Pita Limjaroenrat’s attempted rise to power, no matter how many rounds of voting in his support from legislators it could possibly take.

According to the latest NIDA Poll conducted between July 11 and July 12 with a total of 1,310 people from all walks of life and all regions of the country, 43.21% of the respondents prefer Pita be eventually voted prime minister regardless of how many rounds of voting in joint House/Senate sessions it could possibly take.

That compared to 20.69% of the respondents who prefer Pita only be given a few rounds of voting in case that he may have failed to get enough yea votes in the first round. The Move Forward leader did fail at the first go in last Thursday’s joint House/Senate meeting.

The NIPA Poll has found 12.98% of the respondents suggest the Move Forward give up on any campaign policies which most senators may strongly disapprove such as their sustained effort to amend the draconian lese majeste law, better known as Section 112, so Pita could probably gain adequate yea votes for his elected premiership.

Meanwhile, 38.55% of the respondents say Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of de facto party boss/deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, be named and voted to take the helm of government only as a second choice after Pita whilst 35.04% say Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister Settha Taweesin, known as personally close to deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, be named and voted instead.

A prime minister is legally required to get yea votes from more than half the combined total of MPs and senators or at least 375 votes. One senator resigned a day prior to last Thursday’s joint session, thus cutting the total of senators to 249.

The May 14 election has turned the Move Forward into the No.1 largest elected party with 151 MPs, followed by the Pheu Thai with 141 MPs. Both have formed a coalition of eight partners including six other relatively small-sized and splinter camps.

CAPTION:

Top and Front Page: Move Forward leader/ prime minister-designate Pita Limjaroenrat at Parliament last Thursday. Photos: Matichon

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