People's support for gov't handling of foreign policy, economy melting

Source: 
Today's Zaman
Publication date: 
Jan 22 2013
Turks still support the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government's way of handling foreign policy and economy matters, but the support is melting away, according to the findings of a recent opinion poll.
 

The Ankara-based MetroPOLL Strategic and Social Research Center has found that 53.3 percent of the people think the government pursued a successful foreign policy in 2012, but the figure was at around 71 percent in an earlier survey of the same research center -- carried out in December 2011. The new survey also found that 31.9 percent of the respondents believe the government was unsuccessful in its foreign policy last year. The remaining respondents either declined to comment or said they have no idea.

The finding is part of a detailed survey by MetroPOLL, headed by Professor Özer Sencar, about the people's assessment of 2012 and their expectations from 2013. The survey was carried out in early January.

The survey showed that people's support for the government's economic policies is still at a pleasing level, but lower than in 2011. When asked what they think of the government's performance in the field of economy in 2012, 55.6 percent said they find it successful. Nearly 31 percent said they do not find it successful. The previous survey had found that roughly 70 percent of the respondents thought the government pursued successful policies in the field of economy.

MetroPOLL also asked participants of the survey about what they think of the government's policies in the field of education. More than 54 percent said they find those policies successful, but 35.2 percent said the government's education policies are unsuccessful.

One major question directed at respondents was about a topic of heated debate in the country -- if the AK Party government intervenes in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. Nearly 54 percent said they believe the government intervenes in the judiciary, and 30 percent responded to the contrary.

The survey also found that that Turks are unwilling to switch to the presidential system, a plan which the AK Party wishes to realize before the next presidential elections, slated for 2014. According to the survey, 36.9 of the people think Turkey should switch to the presidential system while 44.2 percent think it should not.

The survey showed that people's support for the presidential system is also in decline. An earlier poll, conducted in June 2012 by MetroPOLL, suggested that 43.2 percent of respondents favored the idea of adopting the presidential system in Turkey. More than 37 percent said Turkey should go ahead with its existing system.

The adoption of a presidential system has been a common source of debate in Turkey. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is a supporter of a presidential system, frequently brings the issue to the public's attention. Many speculate that Erdoğan hopes to become Turkey's first president in the 2014 elections under a new presidential system as he can't run for prime minister again due to the AK Party's self-dictated rules, which do not allow deputies to run for more than three consecutive times.

Opponents of the presidential system argue that the system would lead to one-man rule with devastating results for Turkey's democracy.

Respondents were also asked about their opinion if a democratic administration may exist in Turkey without the separation of powers. While 33.6 responded “yes,” 47.4 percent responded “no.”

Turkey's political system is based on the separation of powers. The executive power is exercised by the government and the legislative power is vested in Parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Currently, the president is elected every five years by public vote in Turkey. Executive power rests with the prime minister and the Cabinet.

The separation of powers became a matter of discussion in December of last year when the prime minister described it as the “main hurdle that prevents governments in Turkey from working properly.” The prime minister met huge criticism with his description.

In response to a question on if they support the removal of a school uniform requirement for primary, middle and high school students, an overwhelming 71.1 percent said “no.” Only 23.5 percent said “yes.” The requirement was abolished in September of last year. More than 51 percent also voiced disapproval of government plans to construct nuclear power plants while 34.7 percent said they approve of the plans.

Bleak picture for settlement of Kurdish question

Some of the other major questions pollsters asked the respondents concerned their opinion about the long-standing Kurdish question and the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Pollsters noted in the survey that the questions were asked to the respondents before the government announced that it was holding contacts with the jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, to urge the terrorists to lay down their arms.

Asked how they would respond to allowing the use of Kurdish in largely Kurdish populated areas as a language of education besides Turkish, 51.4 percent said they would not approve of such a move. Slightly more than 36 percent said they would approve of it. Around 21 percent of respondents stated that their expectation for the settlement of the Kurdish question grew stronger over the last year while 37.8 percent responded to the contrary.

Turkey's Kurdish question has existed since the early years of the republic, but it turned violent after the terrorist PKK took up arms in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed in clashes between the PKK and Turkish security forces to date.

Respondents were also asked if they believe security forces were successful in fighting the PKK in 2012, and 36.3 percent said “yes.” However, 53.7 percent said “no.” Respondents were almost divided into half when responding to a question on if the country's Turks and Kurds have increasing or decreasing level of their desire to coexist. While 34.3 percent said this desire is increasing, 31.6 percent said it is decreasing.

Course of democracy, freedom of expression

One of the major questions directed at respondents was about the course of democracy, the economy, freedom of thought and expression, and the freedom of the press in 2012.

According to 37.7 percent of the respondents, Turkish democracy grew stronger last year. More than 33 percent, however, said democracy grew weaker. When asked about the economy, 45.5 percent said the Turkish economy grew stronger in 2012 while 29.8 percent responded to the contrary.

More than 48 percent of the respondents said freedom of thought and expression was stronger last year when compared to previous years, but 31.3 percent disagreed. When asked about freedom of the press in 2012, 51.7 percent said the pressure on journalists and writers grew severe last year. More than 34 percent, however, said the pressure did not grow severe, though.

In addition, 51.9 percent said corruption increased last year whereas 36.8 percent said it did not.

According to 45.6 percent of the respondents, they have better lives when compared to one year ago. But 43.4 percent believe their lives are worse than one year ago. More than 46 percent said they will lead better lives in 2013, and 28.5 percent said they will be worse off this year.

 

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