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Two separate opinion polls released in December show Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) remain in a tight race, with neither able to open a clear lead, Turkish media outlet Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi reported on Friday.
According to survey results from polling firms GENAR and Areda-Survey, the gap between the two largest parties remains within one to two percentage points, reflecting a prolonged period of political balance.
Data released by GENAR show AK Party maintaining its lead with 33.7% support, while CHP follows closely at 32.1%.
The poll indicates that the two parties have been running almost side by side for some time, with neither able to significantly widen the gap.
In the same survey, the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) ranked third with 9.6%, followed by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) at 7.8%.
The Good Party (Iyi Party) stood at 5%, while smaller parties such as the Key Party, Victory Party, Welfare Again Party and Workers’ Party of Türkiye recorded lower support.
GENAR also examined factors shaping voter preferences, finding the economy to be the most influential issue at 39.7%, followed by leadership performance at 33.1%.
The survey showed limited trust in economic management, with 31.7% saying they do not trust it at all, while the share of those expressing confidence rose from 15.3% last month to 18.5%.
Findings from Areda-Survey similarly showed a close contest, with AK Party at 31.7% and CHP at 31%.
DEM Party ranked third with 9.5%, while MHP followed at 7.6%. The İYİ Party received 6.4%, with the Victory Party, Key Party and Welfare Again Party trailing behind.
The Areda-Survey poll also gauged public reactions to recent political and social controversies.
A large majority of respondents said they disapproved of CHP leader Ozgur Ozel’s commemoration of the late Kamer Genc at his gravesite while holding a glass of alcohol, with 88.5% describing it as wrong or unacceptable.
Economic pressures emerged as a central theme across the surveys.
Areda-Survey data showed widespread dissatisfaction with the current minimum wage, with many respondents saying it is insufficient to cover monthly expenses. Only a small minority described the wage as adequate.
The polls also reflected growing public attention to recent drug-related arrests involving media figures.
Nearly 60% of respondents described the incident as a sign of moral decay in the media sector, while fewer viewed it as a routine law enforcement operation.
Overall, the surveys suggest that economic concerns continue to weigh heavily on voter behavior and that the political balance between AK Party and CHP remains largely unchanged, with both parties closely matched in public support.
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