Summary of nationwide viewer scores after the first debate round: readers named Teng-Natthapong as number one in every category, while the cost of living issue emerged as the major question citizens most want addressed in the next round.
Political awareness surged immediately after the debate concluded. “Thairath Debate #OneMoreDebate Thairath Election 69 Challenges Policies to Lead Thailand Out of the Shadows” On 23 December, marking the important opening contest before the 2026 election, a Thairath Poll survey showed Natthapong Ruangpanyawut of the Prachachon Party as the politician who impressed viewers most, topping the overall category influencing voting decisions with 39.46%, followed by Yotsanan Wongsawat of the Pheu Thai Party at 22.38%, Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party at 13.87%, and General Rangsee Kitiyanthap of the Economic Party at 10.18%.
Meanwhile, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan received 6.58%, Peerapan Saliratvipak from Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party got 4.43%, Suchatvee Suwansawat 2.53%, and Teerachai Phuvanatnaranuban the lowest at 0.57%. This reflects that clarity in presentation can significantly influence public decision-making.
Delving deeper into policy confrontations by topic reveals the following:On the issue of problems,Regarding gray capital and scammers, the Prachachon Party still holds the highest trust with 42.02%, followed by Pheu Thai at 20.37%, with the Democrat and Economic parties scoring closely at 12.26% and 11.91%, respectively.
The Thai Sang Thai Party scored 6.99%, Ruam Thai Sang Chart 4.37%, Thai Kao Mai Party with Suchatvee Suwansawat as prime minister candidate scored 1.60%, and Palang Pracharath Party 0.48%.
Regarding the issue of clarity,On political stance, Natthapong Ruangpanyawut led with 42.02%, followed by Yotsanan Wongsawat at 21.07%, and Abhisit Vejjajiva at 14.61%, showing that the public values political camp clarity highly.
Other candidates included General Rangsee Kitiyanthap at 8.77%, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan at 7.15%, Peerapan Saliratvipak at 4.32%, Suchatvee Suwansawat at 1.67%, and Teerachai Phuvanatnaranuban at 0.39%.
On the sensitive national security issue of the Thai-Cambodian border, Natthapong Ruangpanyawut also received the highest score of 38.22%, followed by Pheu Thai’s prime minister candidate Yotsanan Wongsawat at 20.53%, General Rangsee Kitiyanthap at 16.38%, Abhisit Vejjajiva at 11.30%, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan at 6.64%, Peerapan Saliratvipak at 4.64%, Suchatvee Suwansawat at 1.88%, and Teerachai Phuvanatnaranuban at 0.43%.
However, when asked which issue the public most wants to hear about in the next debate,"The cost of living and household finances" was chosen by 33.86%, followed by anti-corruption and monopoly issues at 32.52%. Constitutional reform and raising the minimum wage also remain areas of public interest at 11.94% and 10.05%, respectively. Border security issues were at 6.71%, and political factionalism received the least interest at 4.92%.
This survey gathered responses from 5,858 participants.
