The public has showed disfavor of the way the AK Party government dealt with 7 of 10 major issues dominating the national agenda lately — including claims of match-rigging, the killing of 34 civilians in Uludere and tense relations with Syria –in accordance with the findings of the latest monthly opinion poll.
Carried on by the MetroPOLL Strategic and Social Research Center, the poll indicates that approximately half of the participants have a negative sensing of the government’s attitude concerning these issues. According to the poll, 53.7 percentage told they didn’t approve of the AK Party government’s attitude on a planned ban on the practice of abortion in Turkey. Over 35 percent, however, approved of the policy. The remaining 7.1 percent refused to make a commentary. When demanded if they approved of the government attitude concerning the Uludere tragedy, which came about in late December, 49.3 percent said no, while 34.6 percent said yes.
The government refuses state responsibility for the tragedy, which came about after the military assaulted civilian smugglers on the Turkish-Iraqi border near Uludere, killing 34. The government stated the military had attacked the smugglers in the impression that they were terrorists.
Most responders reported disliking the government’s position on a debate over match-rigging claims. While 47.5 percent told the government had adopted the wrong position against the claims, 37 percent responded on the contrary. The government drew widespread ire when it passed a law demanding lower jail sentences for match-fixers, in spite of an exercise of veto by the president. More than 90 defendants, including leading football officials and players, are being attempted in a match-fixing case.
In a separate question, 42.5 percent of respondents told they disfavor the government’s position in a debate surrounding National Intelligence Organization (MİT) officials. All the same, 32.6 percent told they like the government’s attitude regarding MİT officials. In February, the government declined to let prosecutors question 4 MİT officials as part of an investigation into a Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)-linked terrorist organization. The government passed a law limiting prosecutors’ power to interrogate MİT officials, stimulating a public shout.
Concording to the poll, around 38 percent don’t affirm AK Party policies concerning Syria, a previously close friend of Turkey, while 43 percent told they support those policies. The Turkish government tells the Syrian administration ought to step down in the wake of a series of violent crackdowns on anti-government protesters.
Demanded if they affirm an AK Party move that led to the closing of the country’s specially authorized courts handling coup and terrorism-related cases, 33.9 percent of responders told they don’t lend their support to the government, while 45.2 percent stated the contrary.
