45% of Thais seek compromise: poll

About 45 per cent of respondents believed that to end political conflict, the opposing sides must compromise and uphold the country’s interests before their own.

Asked what they saw as the main cause of the current political distress, 75 per cent said politicians’ selfishness and their desire to defeat the opposing side; 17 per cent said lack of faith in the justice system; and 7 per cent blamed inefficiency in the administration.

Asked what problems must be solved urgently in the country’s political arena, 58 per cent said mudslinging and presenting false evidence; 22 per cent said politicians exploiting the public hostage by using their plight as a tool for political bargaining; 18 per cent said using the charteramendment and reconciliation bills for selfish reason, and nepotism.

Asked was the main problem with Thai politics, 39 per cent said political divisions and rallies; 32 per cent said lack of enforcement of laws in important cases, charter amendment and reconciliation bills; 14 per cent cited the Opposition’s failure to carry out checks and sole focus on finding fault with the government; 13 per cent said lack of transparency and inefficiency, as well as lack of concrete results in the government’s administration.

Asked about the adverse effects of political instability, 41 per cent said the public struggled to earn their livelihoods and were under heavy stress; 34 per cent said there was no peace in the country and the economy was disrupted; 23 per cent said the government lacked stability and people had lost faith in politicians; and 23 per cent said the democratic system of government had degenerated.

The poll was conducted on 2,463 people in various occupations from July 2228.