Survey: Support for presidential system at 57 pct, AK Party at 55 pct

A recent survey conducted by MAK Consultancy found that 57 percent of the Turkish public favors a presidential system over the current parliamentary system. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) would garner 55 percent of the vote if elections were held today. When asked whether they would be in favor of a Turkish-style presidential system, 57 percent of the participants said yes, while 33 percent said no. Another poll in mid-April by the Gezici Research Company, which strongly opposes the ruling party, found that 56 percent of the Turkish public would favor a presidential system. While debates roil over a proposed new constitution and a possible presidential system, the recent survey came as a surprise for those who oppose the ruling party.

In a survey conducted on March 26-27, 56 percent said they would vote in favor of a presidential system. A referendum is expected later this year on a new constitution as well as a presidential system. A poll in early February by the Ankara-based Objective Research Center (ORC) revealed that 56.1 percent of participants supported the presidential system. The survey's administrators held face-to-face interviews with 8,329 participants from 30 provinces between Jan. 27 and Feb. 3. It also found that support for the AK Party stands at 52.4 percent.

"The head of state, elected by the people, must have more than a symbolic role," President Erdoğan told more than 250 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that gathered in late January to launch efforts to establish a new constitution and show support for a presidential system. Former Presidents Turgut Özal and Süleyman Demirel, former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan and former Deputy Prime Minister Alparslan Türkeş, all have said that Turkey needs a presidential system.

A referendum is expected later this year on a new constitution and a presidential system.

Of the survey respondents, 51 percent of those who voiced support for the presidential system said they believed it will further enhance Turkey's power.

More than 250 nongovernmental organizations met in Ankara late January as part of the Turkish Constitution Platform to launch efforts to establish a new constitution.

The platform previously declared that it was established to compile dominant public demands and form them into one decisive voice for a new constitution.

AK Party leads polls at 55 percent

The AK Party continued to rise in popularity, with 55 percent of participants saying yes to the ruling party. The AK Party clinched victory in Turkey's 26th general elections on Nov. 1, after securing 49.5 percent of the vote.

While the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) secured 23.1 percent of the potential vote in the survey, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) increased support to 11.5 percent. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which has been losing supporters since the June 7 elections due to ties to the PKK terrorist organization, at 8 percent now could not pass the national election threshold.