The 'first party' polemic in politics... That poll result ended the debate

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech at the Library 5.0 and Human-Centered Digital Transformation International Conference, referred to CHP leader Özgür Özel as the "chairman of Turkey's second-largest party." CHP Chairman Özgür Özel responded to this statement.

"THE FIRST PARTY IS THE REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY"

Opposing Erdoğan's "second-largest party" remark, Özel stated, "We said last year that we are Turkey's first party. This is the main point I object to in Erdoğan's speech. Turkey's first party is the Republican People's Party (CHP)." Özel indicated that Erdoğan should "internalize" this situation and emphasized that the CHP's vote share reinforces its position as the first party.

POLL RESULTS REGARDING THE "FIRST PARTY"

Poll results that shed light on the "first party" debate between President Erdoğan and CHP leader Özgür Özel have also been announced. The survey titled "Turkey Agenda Research October 2025," conducted by Gündemar Araştırma, revealed that the CHP is Turkey's first party.

The survey was conducted between October 20-26 with 2,250 participants in 60 provinces using CATI and CAWI methods. According to the results, while the CHP maintained its position as the first party with 35.25 percent, the AKP ranked second with 29.09 percent.

The support rates for other parties were as follows: DEM Party 8.67 percent, MHP 7.13 percent, Zafer Party 5.16 percent, İYİ Party 4.70 percent, and Yeniden Refah Party 3.46 percent.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION POLL

The poll results also revealed a striking outcome regarding the presidential election. Participants were asked, "If the 2nd round of the Presidential Election were held this Sunday and the candidates were Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ekrem İmamoğlu, which candidate would you vote for?"

The rate of those who said İmamoğlu was 57.97 percent, while the rate of those who said Erdoğan was 42.03 percent. The difference was observed to be 15.94 points.

Within the scope of the same survey, participants were also asked, "Who would you choose between Mansur Yavaş and Erdoğan?"

While the rate of those who said Yavaş was 60.34 percent, the rate of those who said Erdoğan remained at 39.66 percent. The difference between them was determined to be 20.68 points.