Turkish citizens see economic issues as largest problem before June elections: Poll

According to the results of the Turkey Barometer February-March 2015 poll by Ipsos, citizens saw the general economic situation as the biggest problem in the country at 22 percent. Unemployment problems came next at 21 percent and economic hardships at 10 percent. Some 53 percent of the citizens’ largest problems were related to economic issues, according to the study. 

“The latest fluctuations in the currency rates, the slowing down in the economy and the resulting discussions have increased concerns over economic issues. These elements, directly related to daily lives, will most probably be the leading figures that affect the votes in the coming polls,” said Ipsos Turkey head Vural Çakır.
 
Ipsos has published the results of the Turkey Barometer every two months since 2010. In the previous poll covering the months of November-December 2014, citizens said the biggest problem was unemployment at 21 percent. Some 8 percent of the citizens said the general economic conditions were the biggest problem and 9 percent said economic hardships. Some 38 percent of citizens saw these three issues as the biggest problem in the previous poll. The same rate, however, rose to 53 percent in the latest poll. 

In general, polls conducted prior to the 2011 parliamentary elections pointed to a much more optimistic outlook among Turkey’s citizens.