Turkey's Main Opposition Party, the CHP, currently holds a 1.5-point lead over the incumbent ruling party, the AK Party, according to the latest election polls.
Survey Reveals Divided Opinions and Support for Imamoglu Trial Broadcast on Turkish TV
A recent nationwide survey in Turkey, conducted between July 14 and 19, sheds light on the current political landscape and public opinions on various issues. The survey, shared by journalist Ismail Saymaz in his column, was conducted by research company PanoramaTR with 2,055 participants.
The survey results indicate that the political landscape in Turkey is complex and evolving. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his AK Party continue to hold central political power, but they faced a local election setback recently, signaling potential shifts at the local levels. The opposition, however, remains divided and weakened post-2023 elections, with smaller opposition parties struggling to carve out distinct identities amid crowded political competition.
One of the key findings from the survey is the public's support for broadcasting the Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's trial live on state-run TV TRT. A significant 77.5% of participants support this action, while 16.3% oppose it, and 8.2% remain neutral. The survey did not specify which trial of Imamoglu it was referring to.
The survey also asked about the government's "Türkiye Without Terror" peace process and the PKK's disarmament process. Support for the PKK's disarmament process is highest among voters of the Democracy and Progress Party (96.5%) and the AK Party (84.6%). However, 36.1% of participants oppose the PKK's disarmament process, and 30.3% argue that the recent detentions and arrests of CHP-affiliated mayors are legally justified. In contrast, 57.1% of participants believe these actions are a political process.
The survey did not indicate any changes in the party standings since the last election. The party vote shares, without distributing undecided voters, are as follows: CHP (29.5%), AK Party (28.0%), DEM (5.8%), MHP (4.1%), Zafer Party (3.3%), Yeniden Refah Party (2.0%), Anahtar Party (1.9%), Iyi Party (1.8%), BBP (1.4%), Others (2.4%), and Undecided (20%).
In summary, the survey results indicate a complex and evolving political landscape in Turkey, where entrenched leadership coexists with emerging opposition challenges and societal shifts. The public's opinions on issues such as the PKK's disarmament process and the broadcasting of Imamoglu's trial on state-run TV TRT are divided, reflecting the ongoing debates and tensions in Turkish politics.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in Syria, particularly the issue of PKK's disarmament process, has been a topic of interest and heated discussions among Turkish voters.
- While the Kurdish government in Syria has been calling for a peaceful resolution, the Turkish parliament has been actively debating and crafting policy-and-legislation around this issue.
- In a recent general-news report, it was highlighted that the Ankara government is against the PKK's disarmament, with 36.1% of Turkish participants in a survey supporting this stance.
- The sports world has taken a backseat in the minds of the Turkish public, as European leagues and local football matches seem less important compared to the ongoing political tensions and conflicts.
- Lately, issues like migration, crime-and-justice, and accidents have been dominating the Turkish media, with reports of detentions and arrests in various cities, including Istanbul, making headlines.
- It is noteworthy that Turkey's Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's trial is a controversial subject, with 77.5% of survey participants in favor of broadcasting it live on state-run TV TRT, as reported in the general-news segment.
- The survey also revealed that support for the PKK's disarmament process is highest among the supporters of the Democracy and Progress Party and the ruling AK Party, though a significant portion of the public remains opposed or uncertain about this issue.
- In the ever-changing world of Turkish politics, agreements and disagreements often stem from different perspectives on policy-and-legislation and the role of key figures like President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as reflected in the survey's findings about the Imamoglu trial.
- The future of Turkish politics and its ties with other nations, especially within Europe, will largely depend on the policies and decisions made by the various parties in the Turkish parliament and the decisions of the general public on issues like the Imamoglu trial and the PKK's disarmament.
