Ergenekon probe is political: survey
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by İzgi Güngör
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 30, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Recent survey results show 64.2 percent of respondents believe there are persons and institutions that are trying to influence the Ergenekon investigation and many think the major parties play a significant role in this regard
More than 43 percent of the public believes the ongoing Ergenekon investigation is politically motivated, a recent survey disclosed. The same survey also showed many believed the trial was under heavy pressure from external actors, such as the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and the media.
The survey was carried out between Jan. 24 and 26 in 30 provinces on 1,348 participants by Ankara-based Metropoll Research Company, known for its ties to the AKP.
The survey also showed 34.1 percent of respondents thought the case was juridical and 13.6 percent believed it to have both political and juridical aspects.
Among respondents, 26.8 percent said the alleged criminal gang Ergenekon was a gang that sought to topple the government by staging a coup, while 24.9 percent said it was a criminal organization acting for its benefit. More than half of the participants, 54.9 percent, thought there was a link between unsolved murders and the alleged Ergenekon organization. This presumption received the most support from Democratic Society Party, or DTP, followers, with 76 percent. This was followed by supporters the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, with 38.2 percent.
Undecided votes decrease
The survey said 64.2 percent of respondents believed there were persons and institutions that had tried to press or influence the investigation and many thought the AKP, the media and the CHP had played a major role in this respect.
More than half of the participants, 59.8 percent, thought the detention of high level military and civilian officials as part of the investigation was normal. The survey showed private television channels Kanal D and Star TV and state broadcaster the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, or TRT, were, consecutively, the most watched and reliable sources for information on the case. Among participants, 56.9 percent said they did not believe what Tuncay Güney Ğ described by some as "the black box" of the Ergenekon probe Ğ had said about the alleged gang.
The survey also sought to identify how the public perceived the Kurdish broadcast on the TRT, which party they would vote for in the upcoming local elections and also in future general elections. Of those surveyed, 48.5 percent said the TRT’s Kurdish broadcast was positive while 45 percent did not approve of the initiative.
Among participants, 38.9 percent said they would vote for the AKP, 15.9 would vote for the CHP and 9 percent for the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, in the event general elections were held this month. The AKP would have received 32.6 percent of votes in November 2008 and the CHP, 12.5 percent, according to the survey. The survey also showed the number of undecided votes had decreased from around 27 percent in November 2008 to 15.9 percent in January 2009, implying that ahead of March local elections, people had begun to clarify their opinions.
In local elections, 34 percent said they would support the AKP, 18.5 were for the CHP, while 9.4 percent would vote for the MHP. The percentage of undecided votes was 10.1 percent and 10.9 percent said it depended on the candidate.
The survey was carried out between Jan. 24 and 26 in 30 provinces on 1,348 participants by Ankara-based Metropoll Research Company, known for its ties to the AKP.
The survey also showed 34.1 percent of respondents thought the case was juridical and 13.6 percent believed it to have both political and juridical aspects.
Among respondents, 26.8 percent said the alleged criminal gang Ergenekon was a gang that sought to topple the government by staging a coup, while 24.9 percent said it was a criminal organization acting for its benefit. More than half of the participants, 54.9 percent, thought there was a link between unsolved murders and the alleged Ergenekon organization. This presumption received the most support from Democratic Society Party, or DTP, followers, with 76 percent. This was followed by supporters the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, with 38.2 percent.
Undecided votes decrease
The survey said 64.2 percent of respondents believed there were persons and institutions that had tried to press or influence the investigation and many thought the AKP, the media and the CHP had played a major role in this respect.
More than half of the participants, 59.8 percent, thought the detention of high level military and civilian officials as part of the investigation was normal. The survey showed private television channels Kanal D and Star TV and state broadcaster the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, or TRT, were, consecutively, the most watched and reliable sources for information on the case. Among participants, 56.9 percent said they did not believe what Tuncay Güney Ğ described by some as "the black box" of the Ergenekon probe Ğ had said about the alleged gang.
The survey also sought to identify how the public perceived the Kurdish broadcast on the TRT, which party they would vote for in the upcoming local elections and also in future general elections. Of those surveyed, 48.5 percent said the TRT’s Kurdish broadcast was positive while 45 percent did not approve of the initiative.
Among participants, 38.9 percent said they would vote for the AKP, 15.9 would vote for the CHP and 9 percent for the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, in the event general elections were held this month. The AKP would have received 32.6 percent of votes in November 2008 and the CHP, 12.5 percent, according to the survey. The survey also showed the number of undecided votes had decreased from around 27 percent in November 2008 to 15.9 percent in January 2009, implying that ahead of March local elections, people had begun to clarify their opinions.
In local elections, 34 percent said they would support the AKP, 18.5 were for the CHP, while 9.4 percent would vote for the MHP. The percentage of undecided votes was 10.1 percent and 10.9 percent said it depended on the candidate.