A majority of people say they want the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to lift the ban on political activities, imposed after the May 22, 2014 coup, so that political parties can prepare for an election, according to the result of an opinion survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll.
The poll was conducted between Oct 31-Nov 4 on 1,289 people throughout the country to compile opinions on calls by political parties for the political ban to be lifted after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said there would be an election in late 2018.
Asked whether it is now time for the political ban to be lifted, a majority - 65.71% - said "yes", reasoning that this would allow political parties to prepare for the election and provide people enough information to decide whom to vote for.
However, 34.83% said it is not yet time for political activities because there are still conflicts between political parties. They said political parties should wait until the election date has been set and that the ban should be lifted six months before the election.
Asked to cite the benefits of the political ban being lifted, the respondents said a democratic atmosphere would return (45.66%); the situation would improve with an election in sight (36.62%); political parties would be free to campaign (26.04%); and the policies of each party would be seen clearly (16.29%).
Possible disadvantages, they said, are that country would not be as peaceful as before (48.08%); political protests could ensue (28.71%); political attacks and smear campaigns would return (19.37%); and political parties would be 'out of control' (12.77%). Some also believed that 'third-hand parties' would emerge to provoke division.
