Monday, Nov 05, 2012
BANGKOK - Almost nine in 10 people nationwide want Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to grab the reins of leadership and be there to make her own rebuttals during this month's censure debate, according to Abac Poll.
About one in two said they had more confidence in Yingluck's leadership and four in five approved of the Cabinet reshuffle, giving it six out of 10 points.
About seven in 10 did not expect the censure debate to trigger any changes within the government.
Four in five believe political rallies would promote the interests of politicians and businessmen rather than solve common people's grievances.
And three in five were afraid that the political conflict might spiral out of control.
The survey from Tuesday to Saturday in 17 provinces drew 2,189 responses, representing a national sample. The margin of error was 7 per cent.
A no-confidence motion is expected to be filed by the Democrat Party on Friday and the censure debate to be kicked off on November 25.
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said his ruling party would not assign coalition MPs to shield the prime minister.
The censure debate should be allowed to run its full course, Prompong said, confirming that the government had no worries about getting grilled by the opposition.
He said his concern was not the scrutiny but the campaign to whip up rancour against the government in southern provinces, including Chumphon, Krabi, Surat Thani, Phuket and Ranong.
Critics were citing issues like the falling prices for natural rubber, oil palm nuts and coconuts to mobilise the masses to take part in the anti-government protests.
A promise to pay Bt1,500 (S$60) for transport costs had been made to anyone agreeing to join the rallies, he said.
He vowed to collect evidence to assist security authorities to unmask those behind the campaign.
