Prague, April 2026 – Shortly after the conclusion of the parliamentary elections in Thailand, the National Sample company conducted a survey on a representative online sample of the Thai population, focusing on the topic “First Impressions of the Election Results and Expectations from the New Government.” The research was carried out on a representative online sample of N=1530, with data collection taking place through an online questionnaire from February 12, 2026, to March 20, 2026. Although it has only been weeks, it is interesting to observe how the mood in Thai society is evolving due to the current international conflicts, which also have a significant impact on the prioritization of issues that the new government must address.
Initial sentiment about the election results among Thais is
generally mostly positive; the Northeastern region is the most satisfied
38% of Thai respondents expressed satisfaction with the official election results, which took place on 8 February 2026 (definitely + rather satisfied). 31% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction (definitely + rather dissatisfied). Almost one third declared neutral feelings: they are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. Thai men, Thais with lower levels of education, and people from the Northeastern region are significantly more satisfied with the election results.
As many as 45% agree (definitely agree + rather agree) that the election results truly reflect the will of the Thai people. Thai men, young people aged 18-34, and Thais with low levels of education are significantly more likely to hold this view.
More than one quarter of respondents disagree with the statement, most often people aged 55 and over and people with a university education. 28% took a neutral position.
Reducing the cost of living is a pressing issue for more than
half of Thais, and the new government should begin addressing it as soon as
possible
Thais believe that the new government should first and foremost address the issue of “reducing the cost of living” – stated by as many as 53% of Thai respondents. The second most frequently mentioned issue is “fighting corruption” (19%), followed in third place by “the army and national security” (9%). Other issues include “human rights and freedoms” (6%), “education” (4%), “the environment” (3%), “international relations and standing in the world” (3%), and “healthcare and health” (2%).
While the issue of the army and national security is significantly more important for men than for Thai women, men and women are fully aligned on the other issues. Among young people, the topics of human rights and freedoms, education, and international relations resonate significantly more, while people aged 55+ consider it more important to focus on fighting corruption and on the army and national security. The topic of reducing the cost of living is the most pressing issue for people with a university education.
Thais expect the election results to have a fairly significant impact on the lives of ordinary Thais, as well as an improvement in the economic situation
More than one third of Thai respondents (36%) view Thailand’s future optimistically (definitely
+ rather optimistically). 42% do not expect any major changes. Almost one quarter are more skeptical about Thailand’s future (rather + definitely pessimistically).
45% of Thais believe that the composition of the new government will have a positive impact on the economic situation of ordinary people in Thailand (very + rather significant); by contrast, 26% of respondents hold the opposite view, and half of them even believe that there will definitely be no improvement.
As many as three fifths of Thais think that the election results will have an impact on the everyday lives of people in Thailand, including 23% who think the impact will be truly substantial. This view is significantly more common among Thai women and young people aged 18-34.
Confidence in the new government is high. As many as 71% of Thais believe that the winning party will be able to form a majority government and maintain it for the entire electoral term (definitely + rather believe). One fifth have no doubt about this at all; these are most often Thai men and people aged 18-24.