Recent survey reveals 65 pct support for new Constitution and presidential system


The research company MAK Consultancy conducted a survey on the recent political developments in Turkey, including a new Constitution and presidential system, with results showing that 65 percent of participants expressed support.

The survey was carried out through face-to-face interviews with 5,400 people from 50 cities and 140 districts in Turkey, between the dates of Nov. 8 and Nov. 12. According to the results of the survey, 65 percent of participants said they supported the dialogue on the new Constitution and presidential system between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), while 28 percent were not in favor of the negotiations and 7 percent remained undecided.

When asked about whether the state of emergency was hindering their everyday activities, 71 percent of the participants stated it did not have any impact on their daily lives, while only 14 percent said they were directly affected by measures taken during the state of emergency. Moreover, 72 percent of the interviewees expressed their support for the taking in of the deputies who are legally charged with aiding terrorist organizations and treason. Some 17 percent of the participants stated that they were against this, while 11 percent were undecided about the subject. Responding to questions on a recent political talking point, i.e., whether the death penalty should be reinstated for crimes causing public indignation and treason, 71 percent of the interviewees said it should be reimplemented, while 18 percent declared that they are against it.

Participants also answered questions about Turkey's relations with the European Union, the U.S. and NATO. In response to a question on whether they think Turkey should continue to strive for full membership of the EU, 64 percent of the participants replied negatively, while only 22 percent asserted that Turkey should stay on its path to full EU membership. Regarding relations between Turkey, the U.S. and NATO, participants were asked whether they believed the U.S. and NATO were Turkey's strategic partners. Only 12 percent of participants affirmed that the U.S. and NATO were Turkey's strategic allies, while 78 percent opposed the notion.

In addition, the participants were asked which party they would vote for if an election was to be held now. Some 50.82 percent declared they would vote for the AK Party, while 24.62 percent said they would vote for the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP). The support for the MHP and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) was 14.45 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.