Thai youths want new Bangkok governor to keep promises

BANGKOK, February 1 (TNA) - A recent poll found that most of young eligible voters wanted the new Bangkok governor to keep his promise by materializing policies and plans he is campaigning, after winning the upcoming gubernatorial election, set on March 3, 2013. The poll, conducted by Bangkok-based Srinakharinwirot University on 1,056 young eligible voters in the capital from January 25-31, 2013, found that 38.20 per cent of the respondents would base their votes on candidates’ policies, urging the winner of the March 3 gubernatorial election to then keep his promise. According to the survey, 27.68 per cent of the respondents said they would base their votes on candidates’ backgrounds and achievements, 19.18 per cent on candidates’ work experiences and 14.94 per cent on support from political parties and most of the respondents, or 59.24 per cent, indicated they would decide on their favorite candidate by themselves. Asked which kinds of vote campaigns impress them, 33.81 per cent of the respondents maintained that they prefered campaign policies which are realistic and beneficial to the general public, 28.57 per cent liked candidates who campaign online and post funny campaign clips on Youtube and Facebook sites and 20.48 per cent wanted candidates to organize direct discussions with them at their colleges or universities. Regarding to the priority of the new Bangkok governor, 74.60 per cent of the respondents wanted traffic solutions, followed by solutions to pollution and environmental problems (30.87 per cent), to economic problems and rising costs of living (26.17 per cent), to narcotics, gambling and indecent gathering places (22.15 per cent) and to physical assaults and students’ brawls (20.81 per cent). Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) launched a campaign for unity among candidates contesting the March 3 gubernatorial election to encourage them to promise to campaign for votes in friendly manners, accept vote results and maintain their friendship before and after the upcoming Bangkok governor election. (TNA)