BANGKOK, THAILAND – A new nationwide opinion poll showed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ranking behind several of his own ministers in perceived competence, highlighting low confidence in politicians and a strong public preference for technocratic expertise.
Early pressure on the new government
Only a few days after taking office, the new government was already under political pressure, while tensions within the cabinet appeared to be simmering beneath the surface. Confidence in Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had declined since the general election on 8 February, even though the cabinet had been sworn in just over a week earlier.
The findings pointed to a disconnect between the formal start of the administration and public trust in its leadership. They also suggested that the early phase of governing had not yet translated into clear support for the country’s top officeholder.
The poll: who conducted it and when?
The snapshot of public sentiment came from a national opinion survey conducted by the King Prajadhipok’s Institute with 2,000 respondents across the country. Data collection took place between 8 and 11 April, making the survey an early assessment of the new cabinet’s performance.
Because the poll was carried out so soon after the government took office, it captured first impressions rather than long-term judgments. Nonetheless, the results provided an initial picture of how key figures in the cabinet were being evaluated.
Anutin only fifth in competence ranking
In the ranking of perceived performance, Anutin Charnvirakul placed fifth, receiving support from 8 percent of respondents. This put the prime minister behind several ministers from his own cabinet.
The outcome raised questions about his ability to assert himself and about his public visibility compared with prominent colleagues. It also underlined a gap between his formal authority and how his competence was judged.
Technocrats on top: commerce, science and foreign affairs
Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun led the ranking with 14.4 percent, followed by Deputy Prime Minister and Science Minister Yotsanan Wongsawat with 11.5 percent. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow came third with 9.5 percent.
The differences between the top positions were relatively small, indicating no overwhelming favourite among leading ministers. Still, the prominence of portfolios such as trade, science and foreign affairs pointed to a strong appeal of technocratic profiles.
Many undecided and little hope among the public
A total of 24.2 percent of respondents did not name a preferred minister, while another 19.5 percent were undecided in their expectations. Most strikingly, 50.8 percent said that, at present, no minister offered “clear hope,” the largest single response category in the survey.
These figures indicated a high level of caution or scepticism toward the entire cabinet. They also suggested that a majority of citizens had yet to see convincing leadership from any individual minister.
Clear preference for “outsiders” over career politicians
According to the poll, 37.2 percent preferred ministers seen as “outsiders” who typically bring experience from the civil service and the private sector. In contrast, only 6.8 percent supported first-time ministers, 3.2 percent backed former ministers and just 2.0 percent favoured long‑serving members of parliament.
The data pointed to a pronounced weariness with traditional political careers. Respondents appeared to reward administrative and business backgrounds more than long tenure in party structures or parliament.
Competence outweighs party careers
According to Issara Sereewatthanawut, secretary‑general of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute, respondents placed more weight on professionalism than on political experience.
“Administrative competence therefore carries more weight than classic political careers, which explains the weaker position of traditional party figures in the poll.”
said Issara Sereewatthanawut, secretary‑general of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute.
This interpretation linked the strong showing of technocratic ministers directly to voter expectations. It suggested that expertise and proven management skills were now decisive criteria for approval.
Expectations and approval closely aligned but not identical
In terms of performance expectations, Suphajee Suthumpun also came first with 13.5 percent, while Anutin Charnvirakul reached 11.5 percent in this category. Yotsanan Wongsawat likewise benefited from a profile associated with academic and administrative expertise.
He was seen more as driven by competence than by purely political considerations. This perception reinforced the broader trend that technical skill mattered more than party allegiance in shaping public expectations.
Authority versus approval: the prime minister’s dilemma
Although Anutin formally headed the government, his position behind several cabinet members highlighted a gap between office authority and public backing. The poll suggested that holding a top leadership role did not automatically translate into support.
This was especially true in a phase when public assessment was still taking shape. The findings implied that the prime minister would need to demonstrate clearer leadership if he wished to close the distance to his more highly rated colleagues.
Fragmented mood: small shifts could change everything
The results showed no clear dominance of any single group of ministers, as the leading scores were clustered close together. At the same time, many respondents were undecided or expressed no preference at all.
This combination left the rankings volatile and vulnerable to rapid change if public sentiment shifted, even slightly. The fragmented mood indicated that the cabinet’s standing remained fluid and that early impressions could still be reshaped by concrete performance in the coming weeks.