Bangkok: Suan Dusit Poll reveals that the political index for January 2025 has moved up. People give the highest score for freedom and rights, but are still concerned about corruption. They point out that the handout of 10,000 baht is still popular.
According to Thai News Agency, on February 2, 2025, Suan Dusit Poll, Suan Dusit University, surveyed public opinion nationwide on the 'Thai Political Index for January 2025' with a sample of 2,261 people. The survey was conducted online and in the field between January 27-31, 2025. The results showed that the sample group gave an average score of 5.06 for the overall Thai Political Index for January 2025, up from 4.97 in December 2024. The indicator with the highest score was people's rights and freedoms, with an average score of 5.35. The indicator with the lowest score was corruption and transparency, with an average score of 4.76.
Suan Dusit Poll also revealed that the government politician with the most outstanding role this month was Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, at 48.43 percent. The opposition politician with the most outstanding role this month was Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, MP for the party list and leader of the Prachachon Party, at 43.74 percent. The government's favorite performance this month was the handout of 10,000 baht in digital wallets, Phase 2, at 52.71 percent. The opposition's favorite performance this month was the inspection of the government's work, at 39.70 percent.
Ms. Pornpan Buathong, President of Suan Dusit Poll, said that the Thai Political Index has been surveyed for 1 year. The scores have been changing in a horizontal line all along. The political index score for January 2025 increased slightly from the previous month, reflecting tangible developments in some areas, especially freedoms and rights that may be linked to the law on equal marriage and the election of the provincial administrative organization (PAO) president, which allows people to participate more in politics. However, the problem of corruption remains a major weakness. Therefore, Thai politics still needs to prove that it can solve structural problems, not just short-term measures that focus on immediate populist results.
Asst. Prof. Sorasak Mansilp, Deputy Dean of the School of Law and Politics, Suan Dusit University, continued that from the results of the Suan Dusit Poll survey, the overall scores in January 2025 were higher. People place the most importance on the rights and freedoms of the people, which are considered to be close to the people. In terms of solving corruption problems, transparency was ranked last. The government should increase measures to solve this problem more clearly. Ms. Paethongtarn received the highest score from government politicians and Mr. Nattapong received the highest score from opposition politicians.
Asst. Prof. Sorasak added that this shows that both of them have outstanding and intensive work that has caught the public's eye. The policy of distributing 10,000 baht in digital wallets in Phase 2 has received the highest popularity, which is not surprising because it is something that the public has been waiting for and is a good thing for stimulating the country's economy. It also shows that the public has hope for economic relief, despite debates over the sustainability and accessibility of the project.