Thai PM Anutin’s support drops in latest poll as pressures rise
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
Only 13.8% of people polled backed Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister in September compared with 21.7% in June, according to a nationwide phone survey.
PHOTO: AFP
- Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s support dropped from 21.7% to 13.8% between June and September due to rising oil prices and economic pressures.
- Bhumjaithai Party’s popularity fell to 12.1%, placing third behind People’s Party and Pheu Thai amid a looming court ruling on election validity.
- Severe flooding in Bangkok and a Constitutional Court decision on the election pose major challenges, with increased public uncertainty and shifting political preferences.
AI generated
BANGKOK – Public support for Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Bhumjaithai Party has plunged, according to an opinion poll, as his government confronts rising oil prices.
But he avoided renewed political upheaval after a Sept 28 ruling by one of the country’s top courts removed the threat that the recent election would need to be rerun.
Only 13.8% of people polled backed Anutin as prime minister in September compared with 21.7% in June, according to a Sept 18 to Sept 23 nationwide phone survey of 2,500 adults by the National Institute of Development Administration.
Bhumjaithai’s rating declined to 12.1% from 17% over the same period, pushing it into third place behind the opposition People’s Party and coalition partner Pheu Thai Party, the survey released on Sept 27 showed.
The decline in support comes as higher global energy costs squeeze Thai households and businesses.
The government has extended cost-of-living assistance introduced after the Middle East conflict pushed oil prices above US$100 a barrel, threatening faster inflation and weaker economic growth.
Anutin’s government, however, was on Sept 28 able to continue with the decisive mandate it won earlier in 2026 when the Constitutional Court decided on a case over the use of barcodes and QR codes on ballots in the February national election.
Critics alleged that they violated constitutional guarantees for direct and secret elections because they could allow votes to be traceable to individuals.
The court, however, determined that there were enough security measures in place for it to be “difficult” to match votes to voters using the three key components – voter rolls, ballots and voting stubs.
It ultimately decided that the use of the markings – intended to counter fraud – did not violate the constitutional principles, aimed at protecting the right of political expression without threat or interference.
The latest poll was held before severe flooding hit Bangkok, adding another challenge to the government.
The capital declared all 50 districts disaster zones after nearly 300mm of rain fell over about 48 hours, swamping major roads and disrupting businesses and transportation.
Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut remained the most popular named choice for prime minister in the poll, although his support slipped to 24.7% from 26.1% in June.
The share of respondents who could not identify a suitable candidate nearly doubled to 19.8% from 10.2%.
Pheu Thai’s Yodchanan Wongsawat placed fourth overall with 11.3%, little changed from 11.6% in the previous survey, while former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s support fell to 9.6% from 11.8%.
People’s Party retained a commanding lead in party preferences, edging up to 35.4% from 34.8%. Pheu Thai rose to 18.4% from 16.8%, while the Democrat Party declined to 9.8% from 12.7%. BLOOMBERG