Only 28.5 percent of Turks support executive presidential system, survey finds

Duvar English

Some 66.4 percent of Turkish citizens have demanded a shift to the parliamentary system, according to a survey by Istanbul-based Yöneylem Social Research Center.

Asked the question of “Do you think that Turkey should be run with the current executive presidential system or should it be shifted to the parliamentary system?” 66.4 percent of survey participants have chosen the parliamentary system, while a mere 28.5 percent answered the current system. Some 5.1 percent of the participants have not indicated a preference.

The survey also gave a breakdown analysis with respect to the party the participants voted for. Accordingly, 79.4 percent of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) support the current system, while this figure was 62.9 percent for Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voters.

Some 94.7 percent of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) supporters said that the country should go back to the parliamentary system, while this figure was respectively 93.1 percent for Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) voters, 93.7 percent for İYİ (Good) Party voters, 90.9 percent for Felicity Party voters, 90.9 percent for Future Party voters, 95.3 percent for DEVA voters, and 100 percent for Workers' Party voters.

Turkish voters said "yes" to shifting the country's governance system to an executive presidency with a controversial referendum on constitutional amendments on April 16, 2017.

The country shifted to the system officially on July 9, 2018, replacing a 95-year-old parliamentary system.

The system granted sweeping powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and allowed him to be both the AKP leader and the president at the same time.