NIDA Poll finds economy tops Thai censure pressure points at 34.27%
A nationwide poll finds 38.78% expect Thailand’s Interior Ministry to face the toughest scrutiny in a no-confidence debate against 18 ministers.
- A NIDA poll identified the Thai government's failure to solve economic problems as the top pressure point for a no-confidence debate, with 34.27% of respondents selecting it.
- Other significant issues expected to pressure the government include alleged collusion in the Senate election (26.26%) and the inability to resolve the cost-of-living crisis (25.88%).
- Corruption allegations were also a major concern, cited by 23.97% of respondents as a potential source of censure pressure.
Allegations of failure to solve economic problems topped the issues expected to put Thailand’s government under pressure in a no-confidence debate, according to a National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) poll conducted from October 12 to 14, 2026. The issue was selected by 34.27% of respondents.
In a separate question, 38.78% of NIDA Poll respondents named the Interior Ministry as facing the toughest scrutiny. Respondents could choose more than one answer to both the question about issues and the question about ministries.
NIDA Poll interviewed 1,310 adults aged 18 and above for its nationwide survey, “No-confidence debate: Who will face the toughest scrutiny?”, which examined expectations of a debate against 18 ministers individually.
On the issues likely to put the government under pressure, NIDA Poll found that 28.93% selected all issues, followed by 26.26% citing the case involving alleged collusion in the Senate election and 25.88% selecting allegations of inability to resolve the cost-of-living crisis.
Corruption allegations were selected as a potential source of censure pressure by 23.97% of NIDA Poll respondents, while 22.44% cited the case involving alleged corruption in recruitment examinations for local government jobs. Alleged abuse of power for personal benefit or to favour associates was selected by 16.72%.
On expected pressure points in the no-confidence debate, 14.43% of NIDA Poll respondents selected alleged failure to tackle “grey capital” business networks, and 7.56% chose allegations concerning the so-called “blue regime”. The proportion expecting no issue to put the government under pressure was 5.34%.
Less frequently selected pressure points in NIDA Poll’s no-confidence survey were the TH-AI Passport project, at 3.59%, allegations of poor governance in public administration, at 3.44%, and allegations of undermining independent bodies and checks-and-balances mechanisms, at 1.60%.
Thai Interior Ministry leads expectations of toughest scrutiny
The Interior Ministry was the most frequently named institution expected to face heavy scrutiny in the no-confidence debate, according to NIDA Poll. The response that all ministries would face heavy pressure was selected by 23.05%.
The Prime Minister’s Office, covering deputy prime ministers and/or ministers attached to the office, was named by 21.37% of NIDA Poll respondents as facing heavy scrutiny in the no-confidence debate. The Commerce Ministry was selected by 18.63% and the Finance Ministry by 16.26%.
The Justice Ministry and the Digital Economy and Society Ministry were selected by 10.46% and 9.08% of NIDA Poll respondents respectively, while 4.73% expected no ministry to face heavy scrutiny.
NIDA Poll’s responses on ministries facing censure pressure also included the Defence Ministry at 4.43%, the Transport Ministry at 3.97%, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry at 3.82% and the Tourism and Sports Ministry at 0.92%. A further 0.15% did not know or declined to answer.
NIDA Poll finds 45.65% expect evidence against all 18 ministers
In the no-confidence debate, 45.65% of NIDA Poll respondents expected the opposition to present clear, concrete evidence against all 18 ministers, while 41.22% expected such evidence against some ministers.
NIDA Poll found that 11.76% expected the opposition to lack clear, concrete evidence against any of the 18 ministers, while 1.37% did not know or declined to answer.
Asked how members of Parliament (MPs) from the Kla Tham Party would vote in the no-confidence proceedings, 30.38% of NIDA Poll respondents expected support for all 18 ministers. Abstention was predicted by 22.75%.
NIDA Poll recorded 18.32% expecting Kla Tham MPs to support some ministers in the confidence vote, while 9.93% expected the party’s MPs not to take part.
No-confidence votes by Kla Tham MPs against all 18 ministers were expected by 8.24% of NIDA Poll respondents, and votes against some ministers by 6.11%. The remaining 4.27% declined to answer or expressed no interest.
No change to Thai government leads post-debate predictions
No change to the government was the most common expected outcome of the no-confidence debate, selected by 40.84% of NIDA Poll respondents. A cabinet reshuffle was predicted by 26.34%.
Dissolution of the House of Representatives and a new election was expected by 19.39% of NIDA Poll respondents, while 9.69% anticipated a change in the governing alliance. The resignation of some ministers was predicted by 3.28%, and 0.46% did not know or declined to answer.
NIDA Poll interviewed 1,310 adults nationwide
NIDA Poll interviewed 1,310 adults by telephone from October 12 to 14, using probability-based, multi-stage sampling from its master sample database. Respondents came from all regions and different educational backgrounds, occupations and income groups. The pollster stated a margin of error not exceeding 0.05 at a confidence level of 97%.
NIDA Poll’s regional sample comprised 8.47% from Bangkok, 18.78% from the Central region, 17.71% from the North, 33.21% from the Northeast, 13.89% from the South and 7.94% from the East. Men accounted for 47.94% of respondents and women for 52.06%.
NIDA Poll’s age breakdown was 11.98% aged 18–25, 17.56% aged 26–35, 17.71% aged 36–45, 25.80% aged 46–59 and 26.95% aged 60 and above.
