More polls needed

re: "The politics of post-poll govt formation" (BP, Opinion, April 21, 2023) 

Dear editor,

As May 14 approaches, the poll statistics are, as Professor Thitinan Pongsudirak notes, perfectly clear: "the momentum favours the opposition Pheu Thai (PTP) and Move Forward (MFP) parties well ahead of the government side, comprising Palang Pracharath (PPRP), United Thai Nation (UTN), Bhumjaithai (BJP) and Democrat (DP) parties. This is consistent with the clear trend the author also describes that "Over the past two decades, it has been clear where Thailand is going, despite military coups and consequently concocted constitutions as well as judicial interventions."

But this same evidence from polls and elections also undermines Professor Thitinan's concerns that "If the PTP forms a government with the MFP, the poll-leading party would be accused of subversion of the throne." The evidence would seem, on the contrary, to suggest that a sizable and growing segment of the Thai people think no such thing. Surely their views on the matter should be respected? In a democracy, their views will be respected, will they not?

It is certainly possible, as some regularly claim, that the highest institution is held to be fantastically revered by the entire Thai nation, but whilst repeatedly asserted, this claim is, to the best of my knowledge, never actually supported by the solid evidence that can alone prove such claims fact rather than fantasy. It would seem, therefore, of the highest importance to establish exactly what the Thai nation does in fact think about its highest institution. That is, a series of well-designed polls need to be done to put the percentages on the attitudes and the thinking of the Thai people regarding this matter of the gravest national importance. The absence of such knowledge is not a sound foundation on which to base policy. It is certainly not a healthy basis for making or applying law. A further benefit of regularly conducted polls of public opinion is that they would show trends in the nation's evolving perceptions and feeling, surely a most pertinent insight? 

In the absence of formal polls directly addressing the issue, the best available evidence is that of the obvious de facto proxy: the solidly rising popularity of the Move Forward party. 

 Felix Qui 

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The above letter to the editor is the text as submitted by Felix Qui to the Bangkok Post.

The text as edited was published in PostBag on April 23, 2023, under the title "More polls needed" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2555136/panda-woe-number-one