🗓️ Sunday, December 14th, 2026
📍 Thailand

🗳️ Poll: Thais Want the Next PM to Prioritize Cost of Living and Economic Issues

A new KPI Poll (King Prajadhipok’s Institute) surveyed 2,016 Thai adults nationwide between November 30 and December 10, 2025 about political priorities as Thailand heads toward a likely 2026 election. The results show a clear shift in what voters care about most right now: real-world economic relief over ideological battles.

📉 How People Feel About Politics

• 45.7% say Thai politics has gotten worse recently.
• 41.5% say it’s about the same.
• Only 9.3% think it’s improved — signaling widespread public frustration.

💼 What Voters Want from the Next PM

When asked what kind of leader they want next:

• 36.2% want someone who can solve economic problems in practice (the top priority).
• 17.8% say honesty is most important.
• 8.5% prioritize upholding democratic principles.

👉 Economic leadership beats ideology by a wide margin.

📋 Top Priorities for the Next Government

Thai people ranked these as the most urgent issues:

• Cracking down on corruption
• Reducing household debt
• Addressing the cost of living

This suggests that many voters see corruption and economic hardship as the root causes of everyday problems.

👥 Who Matters More: Individuals or Parties?

• 59.2% say they might change how they vote if their favorite party doesn’t present a PM candidate they trust.
• 68.7% say knowing the PM candidate in advance strongly influences their vote.

📌 This shows that individual leadership qualities matter more than party labels for many Thai voters.

🧠 Key Takeaway

Thai public opinion is now focused on practical economic issues — especially the cost of living, household debt, and corruption — rather than ideological debates. The next prime minister, if elected, will be judged first by their ability to fix people’s wallets, not just political ideals.