Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is again at pole position in the top 10 candidates for prime minister under the current election law, according to the result of a survey carried out by the National Institute for Development Administration, or Nida Poll.
The poll was conducted on July 17-19 on 1,257 people aged 18 and above of various levels of education and occupations throughout the country.
Asked to name candidates they'd like to be next prime minister under the present election law, the top 10 people named by the respondents were:
1. Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha (31.26%)
2. Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Pheu Thai Party (14.96%)
3. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader (10.50%)
4. Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temiyavej, the Seri Ruam Thai Party leader (7.80%)
5. Thanathorn Jungrungreangkij of the Future Forward Party (7.48%)
6. Pol Lt Gen Viroj Pao-in, the acting Pheu Thai Party leader (6.28%)
7. Chuan Leekpai, former prime minister of the Democrat Party (3.90%)
8. Somkid Jatusripitak, deputy prime minister (2.55%)
9. Wissanu Kreangam, deputy prime minister (0.64%)
10. Paiboon Nititawan of the People Reform Party (0.48%)
Asked whether they would prefer new or old political parties to form the next government, a majority - 58.87% - said they prefer new parties with new faces, new policies and new styles of administration; 32.78% said they want old political parties in the government because they have ability and experience; and 8.35% were uncertain or had no comment.
Asked to name the political parties they want to form the core of the new government, the top five parties were:
1. Pheu Thai Party (31.19%);
2. Palang Pracharat Party (21.88%)
3. Democrat Party (16.47%)
4. Future Forward Party (9.63%)
5. Seri Ruam Thai Party (2.07%)
Asked whether they are confident the next election will be held in February 2019 without being postponed further, 53.94% said they are not confident, saying the situation in the country has not yet returned to normal and can change at any time; 38.82% said they are confident, saying the situation is steadily returning to normal according to the government's road map; and 7.24% were uncertain or had no comment.