BANGKOK, THAILAND – A new survey found low public trust in the government’s ability to manage the energy crisis as fuel prices continued to climb.
Survey finds widespread doubt over crisis management
According to the King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI), 82.1% of respondents had little or no confidence that the new government could handle the economic impact of ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Only 12.8% expressed confidence, while 5.1% remained undecided.
How the survey was conducted
The KPI poll was based on 2,000 people aged 18 and over and was carried out nationwide between 27 and 30 March.
KPI said the results reflected growing concern over economic stability as energy prices kept rising.
Eight fuel hikes since 18 March
Since 18 March, domestic fuel prices had been raised nine times, according to KPI. Diesel and premium diesel increased again at 5am, adding 2.80 Baht per litre.
In total, this amounted to a rise of 20.60 Baht per litre, further straining household budgets and transport costs. Diesel stood at 50.54 Baht per litre and premium diesel at 66.74 Baht.
What kind of state intervention people support
Despite the low confidence, many respondents did not reject government action outright. Around 39% backed a mix of temporary price measures for most consumers combined with targeted assistance for those most affected.
Another 30.7% favoured broad price caps, while 11.1% preferred market-based solutions with long-term support for vulnerable groups.
State subsidies welcomed, but with limits
Many respondents were open to public spending to cushion energy costs. Some 38.6% considered it acceptable to reallocate budget funds from other policy areas in the short term to subsidise energy.
A further 25.3% supported such measures only during brief crisis phases, while about 15% saw subsidies as acceptable only if targeted at low-income earners and the transport sector.
Opposition to shifting money from long-term projects
A total of 11.1% rejected reallocating budget resources for energy subsidies.
They argued that state funds should be reserved for long-term priorities.
Daily pressure in Nakhon Ratchasima
In Nakhon Ratchasima, the impact of rising fuel prices was already visible. Lek, a 54‑year‑old tour bus driver, said prices were increasing “almost every day”.
“My costs have gone up by almost 10 Baht per kilometre, and I don’t know how I can keep working.”
said Lek, tour bus driver.
Lek noted that the diesel price had risen by 17.80 Baht between 18 March and 3 April.
“Every time I fill up, it blows a hole in my finances, and if this continues, fewer people may travel during Songkran.”
said Lek, tour bus driver.
Opposition criticises lack of relief strategy
Veerayooth Kanchoochat, deputy leader of the People’s Party, criticised the government for failing to provide adjustment support, for a lack of targeted relief and for an unclear tax approach.
He pointed out that diesel had become 7 Baht more expensive within two days and called for urgent parallel measures to ease the burden on the public.