Thailand's liberal opposition tops polls as election looms

Thailand's progressive opposition People's Party and its leader are most favoured among voters for next month's general election, two surveys showed, underlining the stiff challenge facing Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's bid to stay in power.



Thailand's February 8 election could usher in a new round of turmoil in Thailand, and will be a showdown between the anti-establishment People's Party, Anutin's conservative Bhumjaithai and the former ruling party Pheu Thai, with bitter histories of betrayal that could complicate efforts to form a government.

The People's Party was backed by 34.2% of respondents in a January 6-9 poll by Suan Dusit released on Sunday, with Bhumjaithai second on 16.2% and the once-dominant Pheu Thai on 16.0%.



People's Party head and opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut was the top choice for prime minister among 32% of the 2,682 people surveyed, followed by Pheu Thai's Yodchanan Wongsawat on 17.4% and Anutin third on 15.1%.



With huge support among young and urban Thais for its bold reform agenda, the People's Party's predecessor Move Forward won the most votes in the 2023 election but was blocked from power by lawmakers allied with the royalist military.