May 11, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Turkey’s governing party draws the support of two-in-five voters, according to a poll by ANDY-AR Social Research Center. 41.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the next legislative election.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Turkey’s governing party draws the support of two-in-five voters, according to a poll by ANDY-AR Social Research Center. 41.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the next legislative election.

The National Action Party (MHP) is second with 14.2 per cent, followed by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) with 13.6 per cent, the Democratic Society Party (DTP) with 3.1 per cent, and the Turkish Democratic Party (DP) with 2.8 per cent.

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 March, Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, Turkey’s chief prosecutor of the Court of Appeals, filed a lawsuit in the country’s Constitution Court demanding the closure of the AKP for allegedly jeopardizing Turkey’s secularist nature by trying to implement Islamic rule. The case was brought to the Court after lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment to lift a ban on university students wearing the Muslim headscarf, viewed by secularists as a symbol of political Islam.

Erdogan has denied the accusations, saying that his party—which does have Islamist roots—is not trying to instate Islamic rule in the country. The AKP submitted its defence to the court on Apr. 30.

In its defence, the AKP expresses dismay at Yalcinkaya’s lawsuit, stating, "It is a contradiction to accuse a party that has done all that is necessary for Turkey’s progress towards its European Union membership goal in line with the vision of Turkey’s founder (Mustafa Kemal) Ataturk of being the focal point of anti-secular activities. (...) If the judiciary takes upon itself to conduct the duties of political opposition and interferes in politics, democracy will be in danger."

Polling Data

What party would you support in the next parliamentary election?

Justice and Development Party (AKP)	41.1%
National Action Party (MHP)	14.2%
Republican People’s Party (CHP)	13.6%
Democratic Society Party (DTP)	3.1%
Turkish Democratic Party (DP)	2.8%

Source: ANDY-AR Social Research Center
Methodology: Interviews with 3,200 Turk adults, conducted from Apr. 8 to Apr. 21, 2008. Margin of error is 2 per cent.