Support for the EU Drops by 4 Points in 3 Years The ratio of those who says that they will vote for Turkey's EU membership in a public opinion poll decreased from 58 percent to 54 percent.

ANKARA - The ratio of those who says that they will vote for Turkey's EU membership in a public opinion poll decreased by 4 points from 58 percent to 54 percent in three years between 2008 and 2011.

TEPAV and A&G Research Company conducted a public opinion poll with 2516 respondents, 1235 female and 1281 male, at or above 18 years of age representing the voting population. The poll, carried out on 19-20 February 2011 in 34 provinces 142 district and villages, involved face-to-face interviews in households. In response to the question "If a public opinion poll was held today, would you vote for or against Turkey's EU membership?" 54 percent of the respondents stated that they would vote for while 35 percent stated that they would vote against. The mentioned ratios stood at 58 percent and 31 percent, respectively in the poll conducted in 2008.

When respondents that did not state any opinion were dispersed, the ratios of those voting for EU membership stood at 61 percent in 2011 and at 65 percent in 2008.

64 percent of the female respondents and 58 percent of the male respondents stated an opinion for Turkey's EU membership.

When the distribution of the support for the EU across political parties is examined, it is seen that 69% of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) supporters declared that they would vote for Turkey's EU membership. The ratio of respondents supporting the presidential system was the highest among the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) supporters, at 80% whereas only 57% of the Republican People's Party (CHP) said that they would vote for Turkey's EU membership. 58% of the Nationalist Movement Party voted against the EU membership.

Composition of votes in favor of EU membership by age groups suggests that the strongest support came from respondents at or below 27 years of age, at 65%. The weakest support came from the 44 years of age and above with 57%.