Thai political index falls as 23 of 25 scores decline
Suan Dusit Poll finds only opposition performance and public participation improving, while the August index slips to 3.63 out of 10.
Thailand’s political index fell to 3.63 out of 10 in August, down from 3.71 in July, as public ratings declined across 23 of the 25 areas measured by Suan Dusit Poll.
Opposition performance and public participation were the only indicators to improve. They also received the two highest August scores, at 4.28 and 4.20 respectively.
Efforts to tackle drugs and influential figures ranked last at 3.00, followed by anti-corruption and transparency work at 3.18 and goods prices at 3.19. The prime minister’s performance and the government’s performance received identical scores of 3.57.
Suan Dusit University surveyed 2,107 people nationwide through online and field interviews from August 25-28, 2026. Respondents rated 25 indicators intended to measure confidence in different aspects of Thai politics, with each carrying a maximum score of 10.
Opposition and participation lead August scores
The August indicators, ranked from highest to lowest using only the latest month’s results, were:
- 1st — Opposition performance: 4.28
- 2nd — Public participation: 4.20
- Joint 3rd — Citizens’ rights and freedoms: 4.10
- Joint 3rd — National security: 4.10
- 5th — Development of public education: 4.00
- 6th — Overall performance of political parties: 3.88
- 7th — Government disclosure of information: 3.87
- 8th — Political stability: 3.85
- 9th — Overall social conditions: 3.74
- 10th — Overall problem-solving: 3.65
- 11th — Politicians’ conduct and behaviour: 3.64
- 12th — Governing in line with announced policies: 3.62
- 13th — National development and progress: 3.59
- Joint 14th — Prime minister’s performance: 3.57
- Joint 14th — Government’s performance: 3.57
- 16th — Safety of life and property: 3.55
- 17th — People’s living conditions: 3.53
- 18th — Law and the justice system: 3.43
- 19th — Cost of living, salaries, wages and welfare: 3.40
- 20th — Overall economic conditions: 3.30
- 21st — Tackling poverty: 3.27
- 22nd — Tackling unemployment: 3.20
- 23rd — Prices of goods: 3.19
- 24th — Tackling corruption and improving transparency: 3.18
- 25th — Tackling drugs and influential figures: 3.00
Pornpan Buathong, President of Suan Dusit Poll, attributed the overall decline to continuing economic and social problems, corruption, disasters and security concerns.
Although the government had responded and introduced measures, she noted that clear results had yet to emerge in several areas.
Pornpan linked the opposition’s stronger rating to its continuing scrutiny of the government and political communication. These activities, together with continued public engagement, helped make opposition performance and public participation the only two indicators to improve.
Anutin and Rukchanok lead politician rankings
Anutin Charnvirakul was named the government-side politician with the most prominent role during August, receiving 31.94% of responses.
The full government-side ranking was:
- Anutin Charnvirakul: 31.94%
- Yodchanan Wongsawat: 25.66%
- Ekniti Nitithanprapas: 22.72%
- Siripong Angkasakulkiat: 10.16%
- Sihasak Phuangketkeow: 9.52%
Rukchanok Srinork topped the poll’s opposition-side ranking with 32.46%, ahead of Parit Wacharasindhu on 22.68%.
The opposition-side results were:
- Rukchanok Srinork: 32.46%
- Parit Wacharasindhu: 22.68%
- Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut: 21.36%
- Abhisit Vejjajiva: 12.80%
- Sirikanya Tansakun: 10.70%
Relief scheme and budget scrutiny win favour
Respondents selected the Thais Helping Thais Plus programme as their most favoured government achievement of August, with 57.60%.
The government-side results were:
- Thais Helping Thais Plus: 57.60%
- Flood relief and assistance: 27.68%
- Higher State Welfare Card allowance: 14.72%
Scrutiny of government budget spending was the opposition activity most favoured by respondents, at 39.74%.
The opposition-side results were:
- Scrutiny of government budget spending: 39.74%
- Follow-up on the alleged Senate election fraud case: 32.15%
- Scrutiny of alleged corruption in local-government examinations: 28.11%
Academic sees crisis of political confidence
Pinyo Khoowattanasenee of Suan Dusit University’s Bachelor of Laws programme interpreted the widespread fall in scores as evidence of what he described as a crisis of public confidence in Thailand’s political institutions.
He highlighted the particularly low ratings for tackling corruption, improving transparency and addressing drugs and influential figures.
Pinyo also viewed the matching 3.57 scores for the prime minister and the government as a sign of weakening legal legitimacy for the executive.
Although Thais Helping Thais Plus was the most popular government achievement in the survey, he argued that its approval rating had not offset poor assessments of goods prices, the cost of living and the wider economy.
The relatively strong public-participation score showed that people remained politically engaged, he added, but also represented a legal and political warning.
“If the government structure lacks transparency and the rule of law, public faith in the system of government and Thailand’s political institutions will inevitably decline,” he said.
