Snapshot: Abhisit’s Popularity

tumblerblog — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:51:21 +0000

In an ASTV-Manager article, PAD’s Panthep Puaphongphan provides an interesting look at Abhisit’s popularity over the last seven months. Note that these figures are from only one source (ABAC Poll). Below is a screen capture image of the original article, followed by my translation.

(Translation)

Date of Survey	Abhisit	Thaksin (unsupportive of the government)	No Comment
12 March 2009	50.6	23.6	25.8
14 April 2009	58.2	15.9	25.9
27 July 2009	32.9	34.0	33.1
27 September 2009	39.7	27.1	33.2
26 October 2009	21.6	25.0	53.4
6 November 2009	68.6	21.1	10.3

It can be seen that, before the current Hun Sen-fuelled Thai-Cambodian dispute, Abhisit’s ratings were the highest in April, just after the government and the army successfully put down the Red Shirt Songkran riot. The fact that his popularity shot up to 68.6% after the recall of the Thai Ambassador to Cambodia appears to vindicate the longstanding notion that Thais like a decisive, alpha male leader who is prepared to make tough or perhaps even ruthless decisions. As Bangkok Pundit and Siam Report point out, however, there are a number of problems with the latest ABAC poll and I would encourage readers to read their posts on the issue. And even if the result of the latest poll is accurate, I doubt that such high popularity will last long. Even the Democrat’s Korbsak Sabhavasu admitted on Twitter that “emotional popularity is short lived”.

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Snapshot: Abhisit’s Popularity

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