Six Polls After Imamoğlu Arrest: CHP Leads in All Surveys

April election polls show CHP consistently ahead of AKP following İmamoğlu’s detention, but margins vary across firms

Following the controversial arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, political research companies in Türkiye have accelerated their work. Six public opinion polls conducted in early April 2025 reveal a clear pattern: the main opposition party CHP ranks first in each survey, leaving the ruling AKP behind, though with varying degrees of lead.

PİAR Research: CHP Edges Out AKP with 1.9 Point Lead

Conducted between April 8–11, PİAR’s CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview) survey involved 2,860 respondents. The results showed CHP at 31.5% and AKP at 29.6%. For comparison, PİAR’s March results had CHP at 30.7% and AKP at 30.2%, suggesting a modest but consistent shift in favor of the opposition.

BETİMAR Poll: CHP Maintains First Place

BETİMAR Research President Gürkan Duman, speaking on SZC TV, revealed his company's latest findings: CHP leads with 32.5%, while AKP trails closely at 30.6%. Though the difference is narrower, the trend of CHP dominance remains intact.

SONAR’s Exclusive Survey: CHP Expands Its Lead

In a poll shared exclusively with VIP subscribers, SONAR Research recorded the widest margin:

• CHP: 36.6%

• AKP: 30.4%

Participants were asked, “If a general election were held today, which party would you vote for?” The results show a 6.2-point advantage for CHP.

Di-En Research: CHP Leads by 5.9 Points

Di-En’s April 8–11 poll with 2,711 respondents found:

• CHP: 34.6%

• AKP: 28.7%
  The near 6-point gap underscores the shift in voter sentiment amid ongoing political tensions.

Ankara Research: 7-Point Margin for CHP

Ankara Araştırma ve Danışmanlık conducted a face-to-face survey between April 4–8 with 2,004 people. The outcome:

• CHP: 33.7%

• AKP: 26.7%
  The 7-point spread suggests growing momentum for CHP in light of the political climate surrounding İmamoğlu’s legal case.

ALF Research: CHP Still Ahead

According to ALF Research, which interviewed 2,000 people between April 2–5:

• CHP: 32.1%

• AKP: 30.7%
  While the lead is narrower here, the results align with the broader trend across all six surveys.

Across all six polls, CHP maintains a consistent lead over the AKP. However, the size of that lead differs across firms, ranging from less than 2 points to over 7 points. The political implications of Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest appear to have galvanized support for the opposition, though whether this trend will continue remains to be seen.