(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Results of an upcoming referendum on constitutional amendments in Turkey are hard to call at this point, according to a poll by Sonar Arastirma. 49.1 per cent of respondents would vote yes to enact the government-proposed changes, whereas 50.9 per cent would vote to reject them.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Results of an upcoming referendum on constitutional amendments in Turkey are hard to call at this point, according to a poll by Sonar Arastirma. 49.1 per cent of respondents would vote yes to enact the government-proposed changes, whereas 50.9 per cent would vote to reject them.
Turkish voters renewed the Great National Assembly in July 2007. Final results gave the Justice and Development Party (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.
Turkey’s current constitution was ratified in November 1982, and has been criticized for providing too much power to the Turkish Armed Forces through the National Security Council, an advisory body tasked with developing the "national security policy of the state."
In March, the Turkish government presented 26 amendments to the constitution. The package seeks to expand the Constitutional Court from 11 to 19 members and modify the way these judges are appointed, establish new regulations to ban political parties, and guarantee specific preferential treatment for women, children, the elderly and the disabled.
Erdogan has defended his proposals, saying that the changes are needed for the country to come closer to European Union (EU) membership. The Great National Assembly has approved the reform package. A nationwide referendum will take place on Sept. 12.
On Aug. 8, Erdogan offered an impassionate defence of his proposed amendments, saying, "Will you stand up for a constitution that is the work of a military coup? Or will you stand up for a constitution which is the work of the people? Will you say ‘yes’ to the law of the privileged? Or will you say ‘yes’ to the supremacy of law?"
Polling Data
How would you vote in the referendum? ("Decided Voters" listed)
|
Yes
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49.1%
|
|
No
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50.9%
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Source: Sonar Arastirma
Methodology: Interviews with 4,000 Turkish adults, conducted from Aug. 1 to Aug. 9, 2010. Margin of error is 2.0 per cent.
