Bangkok, Mar 19 (EFE).- The two main opposition parties in Thailand lead a poll of voting intentions with an advantage, while general elections scheduled for May are expected to be officially announced next week.

Supporters of main oposition Pheu Thai Party walk past banners of Thai property tycoon and party's chief advisor Srettha Thavisin (R) and chief advisor on public participation and innovation Paetongtarn Shinawatra at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, 17 March 2023. EFE-EPA/NARONG SANGNAK — Supporters of main opposition Pheu Thai Party walk past banners of Thai property tycoon and party’s chief advisor Srettha Thavisin (R) and chief advisor on public participation and innovation Paetongtarn Shinawatra at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, 17 March 2023. EFE-EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

The survey, published Sunday by the public consultancy National Institute of Development Administration, indicates that more than half of the 2,000 consulted, between Mar. 2 and Mar. 8, will vote for the opponents Puea Thai (49.75 percent) or Move Forward (17.40 percent.)

(R-L) Main opposition Pheu Thai Party leader Chonlanan Srikaew, chief advisor on public participation and innovation Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and property tycoon and party's chief advisor Srettha Thavisin answer questions at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, 17 March 2023. EFE-EPA/NARONG SANGNAK — (R-L) Main opposition Pheu Thai Party leader Chonlanan Srikaew, chief advisor on public participation and innovation Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and property tycoon and party’s chief advisor Srettha Thavisin answer questions at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, 17 March 2023. EFE-EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

In third place is the new conservative formation United Thai Nation, with 11.75 percent of support, headed by the current prime minister, Prayut Cha-ocha, ahead of the Democratic Party, with 5.40 percent intention to vote.

While the rest of the formations, including Palang Pracharath – the platform that has led the current coalition government since 2019 – would be far from 5 percent.

Prayut confirmed Friday that he sent the Thai king the official decree to dissolve parliament.

Once the monarch approves it and it is published in the Royal Gazette, the country must hold elections between 45 and 60 days after publication, estimated for the first half of May.

In the survey, 38.20 percent of those consulted show their support as the next government leader for Paetongtarn Shinawatra, at 36, a neophyte in politics, at the head of Puea Thai; followed by Pita Limjaroenrat (15.75 percent) – of the progressive Move Forward – and Prayut (15.65 percent.)

The big favorite, who with his previous nomenclatures has prevailed in all elections since 2001, returns to present a member of the Shinawatra clan as a candidate, after the founder Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck were deposed in separate coups, in 2006 and 2014, respectively.

The last military uprising was led by Prayut himself, who made the leap into politics in the 2019 elections.

Despite the holding of democratic elections to elect 500 members of parliament, for the election of the next government one must also take into account the 250 members of the Senate – selected by hand by the extinct military junta – with the right to vote and who they have a mandate until 2024. EFE

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