‘58 percent don’t find statements on missing Central Bank reserves satisfactory’

* Photo: Social media

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The Operational Social Research Center has published the results of its April 2021 public opinion survey.

According to the surveys conducted with 3,605 people in 27 cities, in April, as was also the case in March, people mostly talked about the difficulties in making ends meet/ high cost of living, unemployment/ economic crisis/ stagnation, the outbreak and related developments, vaccination and education system/ problems with distance education/ reopening of schools.

When the participants were asked about Turkey's problems that need to be urgently addressed, the top five answers were economic crisis/ lack of production, unemployment, the COVID-19 outbreak, inflation/ high cost of living and the problems in the education system.

Questions on 'missing' Central Bank reserves

As part of the survey, the participants were first asked a question about the ongoing debates between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and the opposition parties regarding the fate and whereabouts of 128 billion dollars in Central Bank reserves.

In response to the question, "Do you find the statements of President Erdoğan and other officials about the Central Bank reserves satisfactory," 21.6 percent of the participants answered in the affirmative.

While 58.1 percent of the respondents said that they did not find the statements satisfactory, 11.9 percent said, "I have heard about 128 billion dollars, but I do not have enough information about the issue." 8.4 percent indicated that they had not heard about the issue at all.

Dwelling further on the 'missing' reserves, the Center asked people, "A few days ago, the opposition's banners questioning the whereabouts of 128 billion dollars were removed from the party buildings by the law enforcement. Which of the following describes your opinion best?"

52.9 percent opted for "I consider it to be a democratic right that the banners are hanged and the fate and whereabouts of 128 billion dollars is asked." 17.5 percent said, "I think that the related banners are insulting for the President and find it right that they are removed."

Questions on retired admirals' declaration

The Center also asked a question about the declaration of retired admirals on the Montreux Treaty. Referring to the declaration dated April 4, it asked, "Do you think that there is a danger of coup in Turkey?"

67.4 percent of the participants said that they did not think that there was such a danger in the country, while 12.5 percent answered in the affirmative, saying, "Yes, there has always been a danger of coup in Turkey. 10.7 percent said that "there was a such a risk, albeit a low one."

"Which of the following describes your opinion about the declaration of the retired admirals best," the participants were also asked.

19.7 percent opted for "The declaration has content that can be described as a call for a coup; I find it right that an investigation has been launched against the retired admirals." 28.3 percent were of the opinion that "the declaration was within freedom of expression." 31.4 percent said that they had not heard about the joint declaration of the retired admirals.

Government's management of the pandemic

The Operational Social Research Center also asked citizens, "What do you think about the government with regards to the coronavirus vaccination program? Do you find it successful or not?"

The answers given to this question in April 2021 show that there has been a drop in people's satisfaction with the ongoing vaccination program. While 34 percent of the participants found the government unsuccessful in February 2021, this rate increased to 52 percent in April.

'If we had elections this Sunday...'

When the participants were asked, "If there were Parliamentary elections this Sunday, for which party would you vote for," their answers were as follows: 27.2 percent for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), 17.9 percent for the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), 7.5 percent for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), 5.6 percent for the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and 9.3 percent for the İYİ Party."

When the same question was asked in relation to the current alliances, 37.4 percent said that they would vote for the ruling People's Alliance (AKP-MHP), while 33.5 percent said that they would vote for the opposition Nation's Alliance (CHP-İYİ Party). 13.2 percent stated that they would vote for a party which is not a part of any alliance. (RT/SD)