The Issues Thai People Want Their Next Leader to Tackle

Results from the general election in Thailand held yesterday show voters' appetite for a changeover in the country's politics. Almost 300 out of the 500 seats in the Thai House of Representatives are expected to go to the reformist bloc, consistent of parties that want to change the power of the monarchy and the military in the country. After the last military coup in Thailand in 2014, however, the country's junta has 250 constitutionally granted votes for prime minister via the military-appointed Senate. Despite the royalist-military party bloc having done quite poorly in the election, loyalists might still have enough votes to outmaneuver the election winners.

A look at results of a survey by Statista Consumer Insights shows what Thai people are most discontent with. The economy was top of the list with between 45 percent and 65 percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 64 bemoaning unemployment, inflation, poverty and the economic situation in general. Being dependent on tourism, the country was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic's travel bans. 39 percent of respondents picking government debt as a major problem was also high compared to other countries. While reformist parties have criticized high debt, they have also promised a lot of spending ahead of the elections. Around a third of respondents said the country needed to address the issues of education, the environment, crime, health and social security as well as civil rights.