AKP and MHP voters oppose constitutional change for Erdoğan's candidacy

BUPAR Research General Director and Political Scientist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Onur Alp Yılmaz shared data from a study they have not yet released with İpek Özbey from Korkusuz. One-third of AKP voters and even more than half of MHP voters are against changing the constitution solely for Erdoğan's re-candidacy.

Speaking to Özbey, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yılmaz assessed the situation: “Frankly, this picture and what is happening today remind me of July 15 and the April 16 referendum where we transitioned to the presidential system. Remember, before July 15, the vast majority of society was opposing the presidential system at almost the same rates as in this picture. So what happened in 2017? The July 15 coup attempt increased concerns about the “survival of the state” and “security” among the public. Erdoğan and the AK Party used this atmosphere to emphasize “strong leadership” and framed the transition to the presidential system as “the stability of the state and the future of the nation.” Polarization in society was already high in 2017, but it deepened further after the coup attempt. Erdoğan consolidated his own voter base by reinforcing this polarization. Today, polarization is still deep, but the economic crisis and the decline in living standards have increased criticism of Erdoğan. Under these conditions, if the “us versus them” rhetoric is strengthened again, there may be potential to consolidate his own voter base.” 

Yılmaz made the following statements: 

"At the opening session of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), Erdoğan suddenly mentioned that Israel would attack us. In his speech in Diyarbakır the other day, he included Turks and Kurds within the “us” framework of “Islamic brotherhood.”

He constantly strengthened the emphasis on “unity against the infidel” with references to Saladin. And as you know, the full name of the Saladin series that has been airing on TRT since November 2023 is... “Kudüs Fatihi Selahaddin Eyyubi” (Saladin, Conqueror of Jerusalem)... Here, the “infidel” is Israel, Erdoğan is the Saladin of the era, and he is keeping Kurds and Turks together against the “infidels”..."

News Source: 12punto