In an opinion poll, released today, most respondents (50.38%) say they believe that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now on parole, will have advisory political roles in the Pheu Thai party and 26% anticipate that this will significantly reduce the party’s popularity.
The opinion poll on the Corrections Department’s power and politics, taken since Thaksin’s release last Sunday, was conducted by telephone by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) from February 20th to 22nd. 1,310 respondents aged over 18 throughout the country responded.
Most respondents believe that dissatisfaction over Thaksin’s release on parole, subsequent to his conviction on corruption charges, will not lead to street demonstrations.
Regarding the power of the Corrections Department, most respondents (40%) disagree with its authority to either reduce sentences for or grant parole to prisoners convicted in Court.
Additionally, 41.6% of respondents are of the opinion that the membership of the Corrections Department’s parole board should include independent experts.
Most respondents also predicted that the political struggle between Pheu Thai and the opposition Move Forward party will intensify, that there will soon be a cabinet reshuffle and that Thailand will effectively have two “premiers” (Srettha Thavisin and Thaksin).
