As Turkey campaigns for a critical April 16 referendum on constitutional amendments that would create an executive presidential system in Turkey, handing President Tayyip Erdoğan even greater powers, opinion poll companies have shared contradictory figures about the possible results of the referendum.
According to a poll conducted by the Eurasia Public Research Center (AKAM) between March 3-9, 57.57 percent of voters will say “no” in the referendum, while 42.43 percent will say “yes,” the diken news website reported on Friday.
Another poll result released last week by the Net Research and Consulting Center showed that 51.1 percent of respondents will vote against the amendments, while 48.9 percent plan to vote in favor.
Gezici also issued poll figures last month with the same results.
But companies such as Genar, A&G and MAK released results that showed the “yes” votes ahead of the “no” votes.
According to Genar, 55 percent of the electorate will say “yes,” while 45 percent will cast votes against.
A&G’s poll showed that 46 percent of the people are against the constitutional amendment package, while 55 percent is for it.
Another poll issued by MAK put the rate of “yes” voters at 59.77, while the “no” voters remain at 40.23 percent.
The legislation enables the president to issue decrees, declare emergency rule, appoint ministers and top state officials and dissolve Parliament.
Opposition parties claim the proposals would remove the counter-balances to the already considerable influence Erdoğan exerts over the government.