Davutoğlu most successful Turkish minister, says poll

The poll was conducted by Ankara-based Metropoll Strategic and Social Research Center, between Jan. 3 and 8 among a random national sampling of 1,614 adults residing in 31 different city centers, towns and villages. The research center is affiliated with the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.

Of the respondents, 41.5 percent said they feel the foreign policy conducted by the AKP applied within the past year was successful, while 33.6 percent said it was unsuccessful.

Some 9.5 percent said Davutoğlu was the most successful minister followed by State Minister Ali Babacan with 6.6 percent, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç with 6.5 percent and Education Minister Nimet Çubukçu with 5.6 percent. Davutoğlu’s support was just 2.6 percent in a survey in June.

Some 49.7 percent of voters expressed support for membership in the European Union, while 34.9 percent said they would say no if a referendum was held.

The poll also revealed an interesting view with regard to the possibility of Iran having nuclear weapons in the future. Although 56.7 percent consider that Iran having a nuclear weapon is a threat to Turkey’s security, 60.2 percent said Turkey should oppose any possible embargo or attack initiated toward Iran for its possible nuclear activities.

Some 48.8 percent also approve of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s stance that backs Iran despite the reaction of the West, while 42.6 percent are against Erdoğan’s policy backing Iran.

/Hurriyet Daily News/