Poll Shock: Turks and Kurds Distrust Peace Process; Public Condemns Defections

Exclusive poll results from KONDA and Gündemar reveal massive public skepticism toward the “A Peaceful Turkey” initiative. A majority of Turkish (62%) and Kurdish (48%) voters believe the Kurdish issue will not be solved. Additionally, 70% of the public is unhappy about local mayors defecting to the ruling AK Party.

Voters Losing Hope in New “Solution Process”

A new poll released by KONDA Research and Consultancy highlights deep public skepticism regarding the government’s recently initiated political process, known as “A Peaceful Turkey.” The initiative began after a call by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli on October 22, 2024, and has since moved to the parliamentary commission stage.

Speaking on a news program, KONDA Chairman Aydın Erdem revealed the results of a critical question posed to both Turkish and Kurdish voters: “Looking at the developments in recent months, do you think the government’s initiative will solve the Kurdish issue?”

Turkish Voters: 62% Say “No Solution”

The KONDA Barometer’s September research shows that nearly two-thirds of the Turkish electorate believe the government cannot resolve the long-standing Kurdish issue.

A Decline in Confidence: This high level of skepticism marks a significant shift. During the first “solution process” in 2013, the rate of Turkish voters who believed the issue could be solved stood at 48%. More recently, the support for a solution has dropped from 16% in March to the current 12% following Bahçeli’s public call.

Kurdish Voters Also Lack Faith

Confidence is also low among the Kurdish electorate:

• 48% of Kurdish voters believe the government “will not solve” the Kurdish issue.
• The rate of those who think it can be solved remains low at 32%.

This is a drastic decrease from 2013, when 66% of Kurdish voters had confidence in the government’s ability to solve the issue. The undecided rate among Kurdish voters has also decreased sharply, suggesting views are solidifying on the side of skepticism.

Mass Defections to AKP Angers Public

A separate study by Gündemar Research, shared by its founder Prof. Dr. Tamer Bolat, focuses on the public’s reaction to the recent trend of local mayors, primarily from the opposition CHP, leaving their parties to join the ruling AK Party.

70% of Public “Unhappy” About Transfers

Prof. Bolat reported that the overwhelming majority of the public disapproves of these political maneuvers:

• 65% of the public said they do not find these defections correct.
• 70% of respondents reported feeling unhappy when asked how the transfers made them feel.
• Prof. Bolat noted that when asking the general public what the transfers evoked, 85% reported negative emotions like unhappiness and anxiety.

Prof. Bolat concluded that this frustration is not limited to opposition voters; it reflects a general malaise in society. “We are in a truly dire psychological state,” he stated.

Gaza Issue Unites Turks

The research also highlighted a rare point of consensus:

• When asked about the conflict in Gaza, only 6% of the public expressed sympathy for Israel, demonstrating a broad societal alignment on this foreign policy issue.