More than 80% of Thai respondents believe suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra should either step down or dissolve Parliament, with former Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha emerging as the most preferred successor, according to new national polling data.
A majority of Thais surveyed in a recent poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) said suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra should either resign or dissolve the House of Representatives to allow for new elections. The survey, conducted between July 4 and 7, 2025, reflects widespread public discontent with the current administration and growing uncertainty in the country’s political landscape.
According to NIDA, 42.37% of respondents supported Paetongtarn’s resignation to make way for a new leader, while 39.92% said they preferred dissolution of Parliament. A smaller share—15.04%—wanted her to continue governing. Less than 1% advocated for a coup, and the remaining participants expressed no preference or declined to answer.
The poll also asked which candidate respondents would support as the next prime minister if Paetongtarn were to leave office. Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, currently a Privy Councillor and former prime minister, received the highest backing at 32.82%. Prayut is affiliated with the United Thai Nation Party (UTN).
Other results showed that 27.94% of respondents did not support any of the currently eligible prime ministerial candidates. Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul was favored by 11.53%, followed by Chaikasem Nitisiri of the ruling Pheu Thai Party with 10.92%. Additional support was distributed among other candidates, including Pirapan Salirathavibhaga of the UTN (3.82%), Democrat Party’s Jurin Laksanawisit (1.83%), and Gen Prawit Wongsuwon of the Palang Pracharath Party (0.84%).
A smaller percentage—9.77%—stated they would support any eligible candidate, while 0.53% were unsure or uninterested. The poll did not include figures from the dissolved Move Forward Party, such as Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, as its nomination of Pita Limjaroenrat had previously been disqualified.
The survey, titled “Which path should Thai politics take?”, sampled 1,310 individuals across the country, aged 18 and above, from all regions and a range of demographic backgrounds. Regional representation included Bangkok (8.55%), the Central Plains (18.70%), the North (17.79%), the Northeast (33.28%), the South (13.82%), and the East (7.86%).
Separately, a Suan Dusit Poll conducted from July 8 to 11 and published on July 13 revealed continued economic concern among Thai citizens. Of the 1,191 respondents nationwide, 65.41% said the new Cabinet should prioritize addressing the rising cost of living and overall economic hardship. Meanwhile, 62.97% expressed concern about the transparency and qualifications of Cabinet members.
Comparisons between Paetongtarn’s previous Cabinet and the current one show that 41.56% of respondents believed the new lineup may underperform. Regarding external economic factors, 50.04% expressed concern over U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 36% tariff on Thai goods, and 50.63% doubted the government’s ability to effectively negotiate on trade.
Suan Dusit Poll President Pornphan Buathong noted that both domestic economic issues and external pressures are driving heightened public expectations of the government. She emphasized that rebuilding trust will require urgent action and transparency.
Assistant Professor Yodchai Chutikamo of Suan Dusit University’s School of Law and Politics added that economic pressures have heightened the public’s demand for qualified leadership. He warned that ongoing concerns about Cabinet competence, combined with rising economic strain and international trade uncertainty, could further undermine confidence in the administration.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from office by the Constitutional Court on July 1, following a petition filed by a group of senators. The move came after a leaked phone conversation between her and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen raised concerns. She remains a Cabinet member in her role as Minister of Culture.