A recent survey has revealed that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) would receive nearly 55 percent of the votes if Turkey held snap polls next Sunday.
The survey, carried out by the polling firm Konsensus, also found that the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) would only get 26.8 percent compared to the AK Party's 54.5 percent.
Interviewing some 1,500 citizens face-to-face and via telephone between July 5 and 14, the polling organization found that the AK Party would see a 6 percent increase in votes, compared to the last elections on Nov. 1. The CHP would also experience a 1 percent increase.
However, the ruling party was projected to secure a sweeping majority with 54.5 percent of the votes. The AK Party was believed to have failed to convince a part of its voter base during the April 16 referendum after "yes" garnered slightly more than 50 percent of votes, though it was projected to receive more due to the alliance between the AK Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). In another recent survey commissioned by the AK Party, 4 to 6 percent of the AK Party grassroots voted against the party's will for a presidential system. However, the same voters added that they would vote for the AK Party in the forthcoming elections in 2019.
The survey asked its participants regarding the 2019 elections as well and found that under present circumstances the AK Party was poised to receive 50.5 percent, the CHP would get 26.5 percent, and the MHP would bag 12.7 percent of all votes. The pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), at 8 percent, would fail to pass the 10 percent threshold. Even though the AK Party was placed ahead to receive at least 50 percent of the votes in the upcoming elections in nearly all surveys, the party administration was determined to not allow any let-up in the process.
President and AK Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to unveil his party's roadmap for the crucial 2019 elections this week. The AK Party roadmap will reportedly include new projects and reforms in the areas of construction, transportation, energy, labor, health, education and more. Having announced a new Cabinet to run until the next elections, the AK Party will look to present a decent political and economic performance to succeed in 2019. Erdoğan is also expected to analyze the performances of all local branches and administration. The president will reportedly shake up the party's local bodies as well in order to bring dynamism and enthusiasm to the organization.
