Majority of Thais oppose senators having role in electing PM: Nida Poll
A poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) showed that over three-fourths of Thai people want to scrap the role of senators in picking the prime minister by rewriting Section 272.
The Nida Poll survey of 1,317 respondents aged over 18 in various regions from September 8-10 showed that most of them wanted the amendment to be successful.
More than 61 per cent strongly agreed with rewriting of Section 272 of Thai Constitution to revoke senators’ power to elect a prime minister, 16.48 per cent agreed, 8.96 per cent disagreed, 13.21 per cent strongly disagreed and 0.08 per cent did not follow the topic or were not interested in it.
Regarding holding of a general election after the House is dissolved, 69.27 per cent strongly agreed, 15.90 agreed, 6.24 per cent did not agree, 7.22 per cent strongly disagreed and 1.37 per cent did not follow the topic or were not interested in it.
However, 38.27 per cent believed that there was a role for senators in Parliament to balance the power of MPs, 31.66 per cent thought senators had no concrete success and were unnecessary, and 30.07 per cent were okay with keeping or removing senators.