Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's reaction to the latest Nida Poll suggests he was unsettled by the results.
The survey, conducted from June 29 to July 2, showed Mr Anutin trailing People's Party (PP) leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut as voters' preferred choice for prime minister. Mr Natthaphong topped the poll with more than 26% support, compared with Mr Anutin's 21.7%. The PP also outperformed the ruling party, 35.8% to 26.6%, in the widely respected survey.
The findings reinforce critics' warnings that this government's honeymoon period is over. More strikingly, the decline came despite the administration's costly cash handout programme, which was expected to boost public support.
Mr Anutin's response was equally telling. He attributed the disappointing poll to poor communication by cabinet ministers, urging them to engage with the media more regularly. He even hosted an informal lunch with reporters, a move that fuelled speculation about an impending cabinet reshuffle before he quickly dismissed it.
Yet the poll reflects public perceptions of the prime minister himself, not merely those of his ministers. If the government wants to regain public confidence, the effort must begin with Mr Anutin. Blaming poor communication risks missing the real reasons behind the slide in public support.
The more likely explanation lies in the series of controversies that have dogged his administration. They range from allegations of oil hoarding and the government's slow response to criticism of the Land Bridge project to the state recruitment exam scandal, which has reignited concerns about entrenched corruption at senior levels of the bureaucracy.
These controversies have compounded public frustration over the lack of progress in other high-profile cases, including the Senate election investigation and the long-running Khao Kradong land dispute.
Mr Anutin has also appeared to misjudge public expectations. He became the first prime minister to miss the opening of the parliamentary debate on the 2027 budget on June 29. While the budget was comfortably approved thanks to the government's parliamentary majority, his unprecedented absence sent the wrong message about his priorities.
Many leaders before him have responded to criticism by faulting their public relations rather than confronting the underlying causes of public dissatisfaction. Such an approach rarely produces meaningful solutions.
To Mr Anutin's credit, his government has recently stepped up its investigation into the recruitment exam scandal. Whether that effort proves genuine, however, will depend on whether those responsible are identified and held accountable, regardless of their position.
Even then, resolving a single scandal will not be enough to restore public trust. If the government hopes to reverse its declining popularity, it must demonstrate a broader commitment to accountability, competent governance and meaningful reform -- not simply better communication.
