More than half of Turkish voters against constitutional referendum, poll shows

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Nearly 55 percent of the registered voters would say “No” to the Turkish constitutional referendum which is believed to enhance presidential powers and alter the parliamentary system in the country, the latest poll showed on Wednesday.

The survey conducted by the Turkish NET polling firm also shows than the number of undecided voters has shrunk to 2 percent from last month’s 17 percent. Of the 5,000 surveyed for the poll, just over 43 percent have said they would vote “Yes” to the referendum at the public vote set for April 16.
 
The strongest opposition to the constitutional amendments comes from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) with more than 97 percent of the surveyed rejecting the amendments followed by 86 percent of supporters of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) saying “No”, according to the poll.
 
Over 85 percent of the supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and some 55 percent of the Nationalist Movements (MHP) sympathizers have said they would support the changes.

Results from 7 of the 9 conducted polls over the past two months show a stronger opposition to the April referendum while one poll showed larger favorability for the amendments.

The AKP and the opposition MHP helped ratify the new draft constitution in the parliament last September with 339 votes for, 9 votes more than needed to put the draft to public vote.

Critics say the amendment will lead the country towards authoritarianism as the president of the republic will have constitutional powers to appoint and remove cabinet ministers. Supporters of the amendments say the changes will lead to stronger political and financial stability without endangering the democratic institutions in the country.

The amendments include the introduction of an executive presidency that would replace the existing parliamentary presidency of government, the abolition of the office of the prime minister, the raising of the number of seats in Parliament from 550 to 600, and changes in the supreme board of judges and prosecutors (HSYK).