Survey: Hagia Sophia's conversion didn't affect voter support for Erdoğan

A survey by Avrasya Research confirms that the move of the “sultan” has not electorally paid off. The ruling AKP party is backed by 35 per cent of voters; 12.4 per cent backs the pro-Kurdish opposition movement HDP. Less than 30 per cent appreciate the work of the president, who is rejected by 40 per cent of survey participants.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) – The conversion of the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque last month, promoted by “Sultan” Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to further “Islamise” Turkey, did not affect voter support for the president or his ruling party, this according to a survey by the Avrasya Research company reported by Bianet.

In the survey of 2,460 people, conducted between 25 and 29 July with, 99.7 percent said Hagia Sophia's reopening as a mosque didn't change their voting intention.

If an election was held now, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would receive 35 per cent of the vote, whilst its Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) ally would get 7.4 per cent. The two party's combined vote topped 52 per cent in the 2018 general election.

As for the opposition parties, the Republican People's Party (CHP) is backed by 28.4 per cent of voters, the Good Party (İYİ) gets 12.4 per cent, and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) gets 11.7 per cent of the vote.

The two AKP offshoot parties, the Future Party and the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), receive 2.2 per cent and 2.3 per cent, respectively.

When asked about whether they find Turkish President and AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan successful, 28.9 per cent of survey participants said "yes”, 40.2 per cent said "no", and 30.9 per cent said "neither successful nor unsuccessful”.

As for the government, 30.3 per cent said "successful", 41.9 per cent said "unsuccessful", and 27.8 per cent said "neither successful nor unsuccessful”.

According to survey participants, Turkey’s most important problems are the economy, unemployment, inflation and injustice.

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