08.11.2026 08:11
Following the fund investigation, surveys presented to the AK Party leadership revealed a 3-4 point loss of votes. Evaluating the results, party officials drew attention to the voter base waiting in the "gray area" without turning to other parties and warned, "This is very dangerous." As the AK Party leadership took action to repair the political damage and win back voters, it emphasized that everyone named in the investigation must be held accountable regardless of their position.
The political repercussions of the fund investigation continue to be discussed within the AK Party. After some names linked to the party came to the fore within the scope of the investigation, it is stated that discomfort has arisen both among MPs and in party organizations. The party administration is working on new steps to eliminate the negative impact of developments on voters and to restore lost trust. In AK Party corridors, it is assessed that the process needs to be accelerated, especially to win back undecided voters before they turn to other parties.
"WHOEVER IS INVOLVED IN THIS MUST BE REVEALED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"
According to a report by Türkiye newspaper, the inclusion of some AK Party members and figures close to the party in the fund investigation caused reactions within the party and in its organizations. It was reported that MPs conveyed their discomfort directly to the party administration and demanded that the names mentioned in the investigation be announced as soon as possible. It was stated that some MPs reacted to the administration with the words, "Whoever is involved in this must be announced immediately, otherwise we are all left under suspicion." In party corridors, the view came to the fore that measures should be taken without delay so that what has happened does not turn into an emotional rupture with voters.
3-4 POINT DROP IN VOTES IN POLLS
In polls presented to the AK Party administration, it was seen that the party's vote share experienced a 3-4 point decline after the fund investigation began. However, it was stated that the voters in question did not turn to other political parties, and that most of them moved into an undecided position. While party officials describe these voters as a group waiting in the "gray area," they assess that they could support the AK Party again depending on the steps to be taken.
"IF THIS HAS A POLITICAL DIMENSION, ACCOUNTABILITY MUST BE DEMANDED"
AK Party sources stated that the change in voter behavior was not caused solely by the fund investigation, and that economic hardships were also influential in this process. An assessment was made that the increasing tendency not to go to the ballot box, in particular, poses a serious risk for the party.
Party sources described the situation with these words: "The voters are not yet running away from us and going elsewhere. But there is also a group that does not want to vote for us. Because of both economic hardships and recent events. A mass of undecided voters or a community that will not go to the ballot box is forming. This is very dangerous. In the local elections, most of those who did not go to the ballot box were AK Party voters. We need to break this cycle. Citizens want to see concrete proof that accountability is being enforced. We achieved this on the bureaucracy side; we must show no deference to anyone. If there is a political dimension to this as well, it must be exposed and accountability must be enforced. The President has this determination."
ROADMAP TO REGAIN VOTERS' TRUST
The party administration is working on a roadmap that envisages establishing direct contact with citizens in order to repair the political damage that emerged after the investigation. Within this scope, it is planned to explain to voters that those identified as involved in the fund fraud must account for their actions regardless of their duties or positions.
AK Party officials assess that citizens will not be convinced by statements alone and want to see concrete steps taken against those responsible. Therefore, it is emphasized that it must also be clarified whether the investigation has a political dimension.
"PEOPLE MUST SEE THAT NO ONE GETS AWAY WITH IT"
In AK Party corridors, the view is expressed that the process must be conducted transparently and those responsible must be held accountable in order to regain voters' trust. It is stated that the party administration aims to explain to citizens that no one is protected and that necessary procedures will be carried out against those who commit crimes regardless of their positions.
Officials point to the importance of voters seeing concretely that "no one gets away with it," while warning that delay on this matter could further increase the political damage.