(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Turkey’s governing party is not the most popular political organization in the country, according to a poll by Sonar Arastirma. 33.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the next legislative election, up one point since May.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Turkey’s governing party is not the most popular political organization in the country, according to a poll by Sonar Arastirma. 33.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the next legislative election, up one point since May.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is a close second with 31.1 per cent, followed by the National Action Party (MHP) with 15.5 per cent. Support is lower for the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), the Felicity Party (SP), the Democratic Left Party (DSP), and the Turkish Democratic Party (DP).
Turkish voters renewed the Great National Assembly in July 2007. Final results gave the AKP 46.6 per cent of the vote and 341 seats in the legislature. Parties require at least 10 per cent of the vote to earn seats under the country’s proportional representation system. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a member of the AKP, has served as prime minister since March 2003.
In May, Kemal Kilicdaroglu took over as leader of the CHP, following the resignation of Deniz Baykal.
Turkey aspires to be a member of the European Union (EU). One of the biggest obstacles to achieve membership is the territorial dispute over Cyprus, which is partially controlled by Turkey and partially controlled by Greece.
Earlier this month, during a visit to Cyprus, Kilicdaroglu made some controversial remarks on this matter, saying, "They say that the EU will not admit Turkey if Cyprus is not solved. But the EU is not going to admit Turkey anyway. So why insist on these negotiations? There is no point in insisting on the negotiation process all the time simply because we want to appear good to Europe."
Polling Data
What party would you support in the next parliamentary election?
|
|
Jul. 2010
|
May 2010
|
Jan. 2010
|
|
Republican People’s Party (CHP)
|
33.5%
|
32.5%
|
7.1%
|
|
Justice and Development Party (AKP)
|
31.1%
|
31.1%
|
29.5%
|
|
National Action Party (MHP)
|
15.5%
|
18.6%
|
20.4%
|
|
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP)
|
5.1%
|
4.3%
|
6.3%
|
|
Felicity Party (SP)
|
3.3%
|
3.7%
|
5.5%
|
|
Democratic Left Party (DSP)
|
3.1%
|
3.5%
|
4.1%
|
|
Turkish Democratic Party (DP)
|
3.0%
|
2.4%
|
3.0%
|
Source: Sonar Arastirma
Methodology: Interviews with 3,000 Turk adults, conducted from Jul. 3 to Jul. 10, 2010. Margin of error is 2.0 per cent.
