New Polls Reveal Turkish Public Sentiment on Iran War, NATO and Economy
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A new March 2026 survey by MetroPOLL shows that a strong majority of Turkish voters favor neutrality in the Iran conflict, while support for NATO remains but has weakened compared to previous years. The findings also highlight deep economic pessimism and a growing lack of trust in both the government and the opposition.
Clear Preference: Neutrality in the Iran Conflict
The survey indicates that Turkish public opinion is overwhelmingly against taking sides in the Iran–US–Israel tensions.
- 68.1% → Türkiye should remain neutral
- 22.6% → Support Iran
- 2.1% → Support the US and Israel
- 7.2% → No opinion
👉 The data suggests a strong societal consensus: avoid direct involvement in regional conflict.
Cross-Party Consensus on Neutrality
Support for neutrality cuts across political lines:
- AK Party voters: 64.4%
- CHP voters: 67.6%
- MHP voters: 67.8%
- İYİ Party voters: 73.6%
- DEM Party voters: 54.8%
👉 Neutrality emerges as the dominant position across all voter bases.
NATO Still Important — But Support Is Eroding
The poll also measured attitudes toward NATO:
- 61% → NATO is important for Türkiye
- 27.6% → NATO is not important
However, this marks a decline from 2018:
- 2018: 65.1% viewed NATO as important
- 2026: 61%
👉 Support remains solid, but skepticism is rising.
March Election Polls: Rising Polarization and the Threshold Crisis
NATO Perception by Party
- CHP: 65.3%
- İYİ Party: 62.8%
- AK Party: 59.7%
- MHP: 52.5%
- DEM Party: 48.9%
Among protest voters, NATO support reaches 69.9%, the highest level.
Growing Distrust in the Political System
The survey reveals a striking lack of confidence in political actors.
To the question: “Which party can solve Türkiye’s problems?”
- 29.5% → “None”
- Including non-responses: ~35%
Comparison:
- AK Party: 23.4%
- CHP: 22.5%
👉 The “none” option rivals the combined support of the two largest parties.
Hardline Stance on Counterterrorism
Public opinion remains firm on security policy:
- 70.1% → No concessions in counterterrorism laws
- 60.2% → PKK cannot be resolved through negotiations
Strong Rejection of Attacks on Iran
The US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered overwhelming opposition:
- 93.2% → Oppose the attacks
- 94.7% → Believe there is no legitimate justification
- 93.7% → Distrust US-led negotiations
👉 Public sentiment is clearly anti-war and highly skeptical of Western intentions.
Turkey’s Media Landscape: More Outlets, Less Pluralism, Report Finds
Rising Security Concerns: “Türkiye Could Be Next”
One of the most striking findings relates to threat perception:
- 56% → Believe Türkiye could be targeted next
- 44% → Do not see such a risk
👉 More than half the population fears regional escalation could reach Türkiye.
Outrage Over Huckabee’s Remarks
Comments by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sparked near-universal backlash:
- 96.7% → Found the remarks “arrogant”
Economic Pessimism Deepens
Economic concerns remain dominant:
- 76.3% → Food prices increased during Ramadan
- 52.4% → Do not feel unemployment has decreased
Additional findings:
- Top issue: Cost of living and inflation
- 67.1% → Believe a change in government would improve conditions
- 60.8% → Do not see the opposition as ready to govern
👉 This reflects a dual trust deficit toward both ruling and opposition blocs.
Support for Türkiye–Greece Normalization
On foreign policy, there is strong support for easing tensions with Greece:
- 74.8% → Support normalization efforts
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