Fifty-seven per cent said Prayut should keep wielding Article 44 because the country still had problems that such power to deal with, while 42 per cent said he should stop using the power because it adversely affected the country’s economy and image.

Fifty per cent of respondents said Article 44 created more benefits than drawbacks because it made people fear breaking the law and kept the country in peace and order, while 27 per cent believe the advantages and disadvantages of Article 44 are the same and 22 per cent believe there were more drawbacks than advantages.

Asked when the PM should resort to using Article 44, 81 per cent said when dealing with economic and cost of living problems, 73 per cent said when dealing with corruption problems, 71 per cent said keeping the country in peace and order, and 66 per cent said when dealing with crime, mafia bosses and drug problems.