Half of Turks view boiling Ankara-Athens tensions as ‘election agenda’

Duvar English

Some 51.1 percent of Turkish citizens believe that the recent increased tensions between Turkey and Greece are a result of the upcoming elections scheduled to take place in June 2023, according to a survey conducted by the polling firm MetroPoll.

The survey participants were asked the question of “Are the tensions going on between Greece and Turkey for last month an effort to create agenda?” Some 51.5 percent of the participants answered “Yes” to this question, while 26.2 percent answered “No,” 18.6 percent answered “I am not aware” (of the issue) and 3.7 percent declined to make a comment.

The survey also analyzed the answers based on which political party the participants voted for. Accordingly, 36.2 percent of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) regard the issue as an “election agenda” whereas this figure is 37.9 percent for the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voters.

Earlier this month, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Athens of "occupying" the Aegean Sea islands, saying that Turkey was prepared to "do what is necessary."

In return, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis deemed the Turkish president's remarks “unacceptable” and said that Erdoğan has been utilizing "nationalism" and "increased tensions" before the upcoming elections.

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also commented on the issue, referring to Erdoğan and Mitsotakis as “populists who play war card as their votes are declining.”