Skip to content
News from Turkey

Polls Heat Up as CHP Gains Momentum Amid Early Election Debate

ekrem-imamoglu

As early election calls grow louder across Türkiye, opposition parties and public discourse increasingly focus on the possibility of snap elections ahead of the scheduled 2028 general vote. Although the ruling coalition has yet to show signs of embracing an early ballot, multiple polling agencies have already begun tracking voter sentiment, revealing a tight race between the ruling AKP and the main opposition CHP.

CHP Rides Post-Local Election Momentum

Following its landmark victory in the 2024 local elections, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) has intensified its early election rhetoric, arguing that recent electoral gains—particularly in major metropolitan areas—represent a clear public mandate for change.

CHP leader Özgür Özel and other opposition figures cite Türkiye’s deepening economic crisis, soaring inflation, judicial controversies, and democratic backsliding as proof that the current government can no longer govern effectively, and that only a general election can restore public confidence.

Public Opinion Leans Toward Early Elections

Polls show that a growing segment of the electorate is dissatisfied with current economic conditions, and believes that the solution lies in returning to the ballot box. Recent surveys by GENAR, PİAR, and ORC Research highlight a neck-and-neck contest between Türkiye’s two largest parties, with CHP leading in two out of three polls.

Party Rankings According to Recent Polls:

🟦 CHP (Republican People’s Party)

  • PİAR: 32.5%

  • ORC: 30.5%

  • GENAR: 32.0%

🟥 AKP (Justice and Development Party)

  • GENAR: 35.2%

  • PİAR: 30.2%

  • ORC: 30.0%

🟨 MHP (Nationalist Movement Party)

  • Range: 7.0% – 9.0%

🟩 DEM (Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party)

  • Range: 7.6% – 9.8%

🟦 İYİ Party (Good Party)

  • GENAR: 3.9%

  • PİAR: 4.6%

  • ORC: 5.1%

🟫 Zafer Party

  • GENAR: 3.2%

  • PİAR: 5.1%

  • ORC: 4.2%

Growing Uncertainty as Election Speculation Grows

The narrowing gap between CHP and AKP, along with rising support for smaller nationalist and Kurdish-aligned parties, signals a potentially fragmented political landscape. Analysts say any future election—early or on schedule—will likely be highly competitive, shaped by voter concerns over economic hardship, civil liberties, and institutional trust.

For now, opposition leaders are expected to continue pressing for early elections, while the ruling bloc remains strategically silent—possibly awaiting shifts in public mood or economic indicators.

Related articles