Public wants honest prime minister

A majority of people living in Bangkok and surrounding areas want to have an honest prime minister, according to an opinion poll released Sunday.

Noppadol Kannikar, director of Assumption University's ABAC Poll Centre, said the poll surveyed 1,550 people between Sept 22-23 on their feelings after the military seized power and ousted the government under prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday.

According to the poll, 97.6 per cent of the total respondents said they wanted an honest prime minister and ministers.

On the other hand, it appeared that the Thai public wants a decisive, fast-decision-making leader, who is at the same time endowed with the quality of patience.

According to the poll, almost everyone endorsed both qualities -- which could be viewed as opposites: 97.1 per cent of the respondents want a prime minister who can decide quickly, and virtually the same number--97 per cent--want a prime minister with patience.

Interestingly, 92.1 per cent of the respondents said military officers could be dependable, 89.1 per cent said they felt safer and 87 per cent said they believed the military really belonged to the people.

The society, which was seen divided during the ousted government, seems to have improved its mood as 57.5 per cent of the respondents said unity among the people should improve, 25.6 per cent said no changes were seen and only 4.5 per cent believed it could worsen.

A total of 34.5 per cent of respondents believed that politicians would be more honest, 20.4 per cent saw no change and 14.8 per cent thought it could worsen.