They believe that with these quality candidates, the new election agency will be free from political intervention, according to results of Bangkok University's public opinion poll released Sunday.

However, most of them appear to suspect whether the Senate will be able to ensure transparency in picking five of the nominees to fill the vacant seats of election commissioners.

The latest poll showed that Bangkok voters favoured those nominees in question - former senator Kaewsan Atibodhi, retired Supreme Court judge Nam Yimyaem, and Supreme Court senior judge Wasan Soipisut.

Kaewsan came first among the 10 nominees, obtaining 1,059 votes from those surveyed. He was followed by Southern Bangkok Criminal Court senior judge Udom Fuangfung, who got 903 votes, Nam (876), Wasan (739), and Supreme Court justice Wicha Mahakhun (700). The remaining five nominees obtained between 430 and 638 votes from the poll respondents.

Almost 85 per cent of those surveyed said they were satisfied with the Supreme Court's nominations. More than 70 per cent of the respondents viewed the nomination process as transparent.

However, 53 per cent doubted the Senate's transparency in selecting the final five for the EC, compared to 47 per cent who had confidence in the Upper House.

Fifty-five per cent of the respondents said they were confident the new EC would be genuinely free from political interference while 45 per cent still had doubt about it.

The survey was conducted on 1,377 people aged 21 and over in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces on Friday and Saturday.

The Nation