Survey: Majority in favor of lifting parliamentary immunity for HDP deputies


A recent survey conducted by Ankara's Objective Research Center (ORC) revealed on Friday that 93 percent of those polled are in favor of lifting the parliamentary immunity of some Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputies due to their support for the PKK terrorist organization. The political agendas analysis branch of the ORC revealed voters views' about the proposed presidential system, the parliamentary immunity of deputies, the ongoing operations against the "parallel structure" of the Gülen Movement, and the developments in the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

According to a survey conducted in 36 provinces with a total of 4,176 people, 93 percent of those polled want immunity lifted for those HDP deputies who have promoted the PKK terrorist organization. In response to the presidential system, the survey showed a significant increase of support from the participants at 57 percent. Concerning the combat against the controversial Gülen Movement, 89.5 percent of participants supported the operations against the Gülenist shadow state. In addition, 62 percent perceive the decision by the Constitutional Court to release the controversial journalists Erdem Gül and Can Dündar as wrong.

The survey also showed that CHP voters are keen to see Deniz Baykal as the chairman of their party, while MHP voters support the current chairman Devlet Bahçeli in the party's extraordinary congress debates. From the MHP's grassroots, 58 percent of those polled aspire to see Bahceli as the party leader, while Meral Aksener's support is only at 27 percent. The ORC survey also shows a change in support for the CHP's chairmanship, only 40 percent of CHP voters desire to see Kılıçdaroğlu remain as the leader, while 52 percent of CHP voters would prefer to see Baykal as CHP leader.