Public Opinion Divided on Pheu Thai-Military Coalition Government in Thailand

An opinion poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration revealed that 64% of respondents disagreed with the idea of the Pheu Thai party forming a coalition government with military-backed groups in Thailand. The Pheu Thai party, founded by the family of self-exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has taken over efforts to form a government after the winner of the May election, Move Forward, was blocked by conservative legislators allied with the royalist military. Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, apologized for failing to keep the party's election pledge of not joining pro-military parties. The party is set to nominate real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin as prime minister for voting on Tuesday, while Thaksin Shinawatra is set to return to Thailand despite facing a jail sentence.