Đảng Dân chủ cam kết về lương, ma túy, thu nhập của nông dân và giáo dục

PM covers bases for policy launch

ABHISIT, TEAM VISIT FIVE CAMPAIGN SPOTS ON FIRST DAY

Bangkok Post

Published: 22/05/2011

Democrat Party leader and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva talked up a storm on the first day of his party's campaign launch.

BLUE SKIES AHEAD: Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva greets supporters at Wat Arun as his party introduces its constituency candidates in the Thon Buri area.

In the space of a few hours, Mr Abhisit visited five campaign spots, starting with his campaign launch at Wat Arun in Thon Buri.

The Democrat leader unveiled the party's campaign before a crowd of 200 supporters, and the party's Thon Buri candidates, at Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn).

He told the crowd that the Democrats would carry on where they left off, tackling consumer product price hikes, and increasing people's incomes and living standards.

"If you vote for us and we are returned to office, we can start work on helping make your lives better from day one," he said.

A Democrat-led government would also increase the daily minimum wage by 25% within two years, set up a drugs task force, guarantee farmer incomes by 25%, develop the 15-year free education programme and offer loans to 250,000 university students.

Before launching the campaign, Mr Abhisit paid respects to a statue inside the temple's Uposatha hall.

His audience were mostly elderly people, vendors, taxi drivers and motorcycle taxi drivers.

Mr Abhisit said his party chose the temple, located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, for the launch because its name means the beginning of the day.

The party also unveiled its 10 candidates who will run in Thon Buri district, a traditional stronghold of the Democrats.

Former constituency MPs who have represented the Thon Buri side of town include Wilas Chanpitak, Chanin Roongsaeng, Ratchada Thanadirek and list MP Ong-art Klampaibul.

Revisiting a theme he has pushed heavily in the past few days, Mr Abhisit criticised Pheu Thai's call to grant an amnesty to its de facto leader Thaksin Shinawatra, saying political chaos would result.

Voters should decide whether they want the country to move forward, or mired in political conflict.

After the party's campaign launch in Thon Buri district, Mr Abhisit travelled to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in Dusit district, where he joined Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij to campaign on the party's offer to guarantee farmer incomes.

Half an hour later, he travelled to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board in Din Daeng district to join Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, where he spoke to an invited audience about the party's policy on drugs suppression.

Mr Abhisit also dropped in at Phranakhon Rajabhat University in Bang Khen district to push his education policy including more loans for students.

He was accompanied on this stop by Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat.

The last campaign stop yesterday was a textile and garment factory in Don Muang district, where Mr Abhisit pushed his policy of a 25% daily minimum wage increase for workers.

Prompong Nopparit, opposition Pheu Thai spokesman, said the Democrats' campaign launch was full of hot air.

The Democrats had been at the helm of government for more than two years but had accomplished nothing, Mr Prompong said.

"People should think hard about whether they want Pheu Thai or the Democrats to form the next government," he said.

"If they vote for Pheu Thai, they will get politicians who truly represent them and will solve their problems.

"If they vote for the Democrats, they will get politicians who do little but talk," said Mr Prompong.

 

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/238201/pm-covers-bases-for-policy-launch

Yingluck cam kết chống đói nghèo và ma túy

Yingluck pledges war on poverty, drugs

WARM HOMETOWN WELCOME BRINGS PRIME MINISTERIAL CANDIDATE TO TEARS

Bangkok Post

Published: 22/05/2011

CHIANG MAI : Pheu Thai will put money back into voters' pockets and drive out illicit drugs in 12 months, says its drawcard Yingluck Shinawatra.

BOLD SHOWING: Pheu Thai’s candidate for prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra greets supporters at the Chiang Mai 700 Years Stadium as she hits the campaign trail in Chiang Mai, her hometown.

Launching her campaign in her hometown of Chiang Mai yesterday, Ms Yingluck revived many of the well received policies pursued by her elder brother, Thaksin, when he was prime minister.

They were accompanied by bold promises which gave the launch a sense of theatre which some observers said has been lacking from rivals' campaigns so far.

In an address to about 15,000 supporters, she said Pheu Thai would tackle poverty and drugs, and make Thais happy again.

"How have you been?" she asked party faithful, fighting back tears as she thanked voters for the warm welcome she received.

Ms Yingluck, the party's candidate for prime minister, launched her campaign at the Chiang Mai 700 Years indoor stadium before a crowd drawn mainly from Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces, which are Pheu Thai strongholds.

A businesswoman who shot to prominence after Thaksin anointed her as his preferred prime ministerial candidate, Ms Yingluck's visit to Chiang Mai recalled a similar high profile one by Thaksin, soon after he became prime minister in 2001.

She addressed the crowd in northern dialect with a shaky voice, tears welling in her eyes.

"I never expected that my trip back home this time could be so impressive. You have given me such a warm reception _ but how much grander would it be if my brother came himself?" asked Ms Yingluck, who took to the stage about 6pm.

Pheu Thai has pledged an amnesty for Thaksin, whose government was overturned by the 2006 coup, and who fled overseas after he was convicted of political corruption.

"Have you been happy during the past four to five years? I'm told that your happiness and money in your pockets have disappeared.

"The Pheu Thai Party is worried about it. We have to solve people's problems and bring back their happiness. We'll revive our policies from the past and implement them.

"We'll announce a new war on drugs. We'll root them out from society in 12 months.

"We'll also announce a war on poverty. Poverty will be gone in four years. We'll make sure the 30 baht universal healthcare scheme works again.

"We'll also increase the village fund to two million baht for each village," said Ms Yingluck.

She wanted moral support from fellow northerners and knew they would help her party win all 10 seats in the province. Ms Yingluck said she would like to visit southern provinces _ traditionally a Democrat stronghold _ but the trip would have to await confirmation from the party's staff that they would be ready to accommodate her.

Pheu Thai expected to win more than half the House seats in the July 3 election, and would welcome other parties if it chose to form a coalition government.

Ms Yingluck's entourage included non-MP leader Yongyuth Wichaidit, and list candidates Chalerm Yubamrung and Natthawut Saikua.

Mr Chalerm and Mr Natthawut, a former leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), also addressed the crowd.

Somchai Preechasilpakul, a law lecturer from Chiang Mai University, said Ms Yingluck possessed the common touch, and had shown she was able to get on with people from all walks of life.

Before her campaign launch, Ms Yingluck and other members of the Shinawatra family paid homage to the shrine of late family members at Rongtham Samakkhee temple in Chiang Mai's San Kamphaeng district.

Ms Yingluck also took her team to visit voters at Warorot Market, a major fresh market in Chiang Mai.

Somchai Wongsawat, a former prime minister and Ms Yingluck's brother-in-law, said initially he was worried whether businesswoman Ms Yingluck could handle her role as a political leader, as she is a relative newcomer to politics.

However, after watching her perform, he was confident that she would be a success, said Mr Somchai.

Meanwhile, Surapong Towijakchaikul, a former Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Mai, said Pheu Thai was confident it would win at least eight out of 10 seats in the province.

The party was less confident in two constituencies where Noraphon Tantimontri from the Democrat Party and Krai Daptham from the Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party were standing, as they were strong candidates.

Mr Surapong said Pheu Thai's chances of winning those seats was 50%.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/238199/yingluck-pledges-war-on-poverty-drugs

Kết quả thăm dò dư luận bầu cử ở Thái Lan: đảng "Vì người Thái" dẫn đầu

Poll:Most people to vote for P.Thai

Bangkok Post

Published: 22/05/2011

More people will vote for the Pheu Thai than for the Democrat Party in the party list or proportional representation system, Suan Dusit Poll revealed on Sunday.

The poll was conducted between May 19-22 on 3,584 eligible voters throughout the country.

Asked which party they would vote for in the party list system, 41.22 per cent said they would vote for Pheu Thai, 36.88 per cent for the Democrat Party, 3.88 per cent for Bhumjaithai, and 9.27 per cent still undecided.

 

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/238278/poll-most-people-to-vote-for-p-thai

Thăm dò dư luận trước bầu cử ở Thái Lan: Yingluck vươn lên mạnh mẽ

Popular Yingluck sets the pace

Democrats 'must revise strategy' to catch up

Bangkok Post

Published: 23/05/2011

The Democrat Party needs to revise its election campaign strategy to catch up with the rising popularity of Yingluck Shinawatra, according to Abac Poll director Noppadol Kanikar.

A Democrat supporter, right, shouts to ask people to vote for number 10 while a People’s Alliance for Democracy campaigner, left, shows a Vote No placard as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva campaigns at Siam Square in Bangkok yesterday. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

Ms Yingluck's leadership image has improved significantly since the Pheu Thai Party named her as its prime ministerial candidate last week.

The youngest sister of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has dominated mainstream media coverage over the past week after she decided to run in the July 3 election as Pheu Thai's No 1 party list candidate.

Ms Yingluck's election campaign in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district on Friday was warmly welcomed by local people, while her first upcountry campaign in Chiang Mai and other northern provinces that ended yesterday drew tens of thousands of supporters who greeted her like a superstar.


The 44-year-old businesswoman-turned-politician has apparently overshadowed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Democrat Party's campaign.

"There are reasons for the Democrats to fear [Ms Yingluck], considering a sharp increase in her popularity in various aspects," Mr Noppadol said.

Assumption University's poll centre interviewed 2,333 adults in 17 provinces from May 16-21 to gauge public opinion over the leadership images of Mr Abhisit and Ms Yingluck.

The survey was divided into two periods _ before and after the nomination of Ms Yingluck as a candidate for prime minister.

The result, released yesterday, showed that Ms Yingluck's leadership image improved significantly in all aspects, such as knowledge and capability, political ethics, honesty, vision, public acceptance and politeness, said Mr Noppadol.

Before the nomination, only 10.9% of respondents said Ms Yingluck has leadership characteristics, but the figure jumped to 20.4% after May 16.

Although Mr Abhisit's overall image was better than his rival's, his popularity has dropped in almost all aspects.

For example, the number of respondents viewing Mr Abhisit as a new-generation politician dropped from 42.8% to 36%, while his public acceptance was down from 49.6% to 47%.

Almost 60% of respondents said they wanted to see a debate between Mr Abhisit and Ms Yingluck.

"Democrats should push for the debate to happen because it will help boost Mr Abhisit's popularity, especially among voters who based their decision on content rather than public appearance," said the Abac Poll director.

The Democrat Party's key figure, meanwhile, shrugged off the poll's findings and vowed to press ahead with the election strategy.

Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said the poll showed that Mr Abhisit's leadership image was far better than that of Ms Yingluck.

Mr Suthep said he gave little weight to the poll as respondents could easily change their minds.

Korn Chatikavanij, the finance minister and deputy leader of the Democrat Party, said it was a little surprising that Ms Yingluck's popularity had risen.

He said the Democrats remained confident that voters would recognise the advantages in terms of experience and policy substance held by Mr Abhisit.

"[For Ms Yingluck], the most important policy put forth is essentially to help her older brother," Mr Korn told the Bangkok Post.

He said the personal qualifications of the two party leaders also offered a sharp contrast, with Mr Abhisit having a clear edge in terms of political experience over Ms Yingluck.

Komsan Pokong, a law lecturer at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said the results of the poll could reflect that most respondents might be fed up with the current government and Mr Abhisit, who have failed to accomplish some policies since they came to power two years ago.

Surichai Wun-gaeo, a political science lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said Ms Yingluck was being introduced to Thai voters as "a new product" in the political market.

"So it is usual that customers are fond of that product without thinking deeply whether or not we will benefit from it,"said Mr Surichai.

Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, director of Sripathum University's Policy Watch Centre, said it was too early to conclude that Ms Yingluck had better leadership skills than Mr Abhisit.

Mr Somchai said Ms Yingluck's leadership image has significantly improved because she has made many public appearances since she was named Pheu Thai's PM candidate.

Mr Somchai said public opinion towards Mr Abhisit and Ms Yingluck could change in the next two or three weeks after people listened more to policies from the two candidates.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the poll showed that Ms Yingluck was becoming much more popular than Mr Abhisit.

Ms Yingluck and the Pheu Thai candidates finished their election campaign in the northern provinces yesterday.

At Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Ms Yingluck and Pheu Thai's candidates for constituency MPs addressed about 20,000 supporters.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/238340/popular-yingluck-sets-the-pace

Thăm dò dư luận: đảng "Vì người Thái" tốt hơn "đảng Dân chủ"

Poll: P.Thai better than the Democrat

Bangkok Post
Published: 8/05/2011

The opposition Pheu Thai Party has more strong points than the ruling Democrat Party, according to the latest Abac Poll.

Pheu Thai received higher votes on various strong points from the respondents when compared to those of the Democrat, Noppadol Kannikar, director of Abac poll at the Assumption University, said on Sunday.

The opinion poll on strong points of the two main parties, which surveyed 2,143 people in Bangkok and 16 other provinces in all regions between May 1 and 7, reported 59% of the respondents supported policy and vision of Pheu Thai, while 41% back those of the Democrat.

On the economic capability, 64.6% of them voted for Pheu Thai and 35.4% for the ruling camp.

Nearly 62% supported the foreign affairs policy of the opposition party while the Democrat gained 38.1%.

Some 58.6% of the respondent considered the Pheu Thai party was more acceptable by the international community, while 41.4% of them pointed to the Democrat.

Only on the transparency and honesty that the Democrat gained more percentage, 51.6%, while 48.4% of the respondents voted for Pheu Thai.

A total of 36.4% of them said they would vote for party list candidates of Pheu Thai, while 34.1% would back candidates of the Democrat.

 

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/235931/poll-p-thai-better-than-the-democrat