What Drives Voter Identity in Turkey's Political Landscape?

One of the most telling ways to understand a country’s political climate is by looking beyond party names and into the ideological identities of their voters. In Turkey, where party loyalty often intertwines with deep-rooted values, a recent breakdown of voter identities sheds light on some striking patterns.

🔴 CHP voters remain largely anchored in country`s founding ideals — with 59% identifying as Atatürkist. For many, this is more than political preference; it’s a foundational worldview tied to secularism, republicanism, democracy and modernism.

🟠 AK Party supporters exhibit a notably diverse ideological profile. While 35.7% identify as conservative, a significant 20.7% express no political interest at all, pointing to a pragmatic or non-ideological segment which is interestingly, reflecting a broader and more mixed voter base than often assumed. Religion and tradition remain key pillars — but so does the mythological political persona built around Erdoğan, which continues to shape the party’s widespread appeal.

🔵 On the nationalist front, MHP voters are much more ideologically aligned: a striking 80% define themselves as Turkish nationalists. This points to a high degree of coherence in the party’s base, making it one of the most ideologically homogenous groups in Turkish politics. However, it’s worth noting that Turkish nationalism itself is quite fragmented and has a long, complex history. One of the key reformist movements that led to the foundation of the Turkish Republic was rooted in Turkish nationalism. Today, however, those who remain under the MHP umbrella largely represent a Turkish-Islamist branch, blending ethnic nationalism with religious conservatism.

🟣 Meanwhile, DEM Party voters are divided but still show significant ethnic-national identity, with 43.7% identifying as Kurdish nationalists. This reflects the party’s strong base in identity politics, shaped by decades of cultural and political struggle. However, since the 2015 summer elections — marked by the “We will not let you become president” campaign and the historic surge in support led by then co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş — the party has faced a steady erosion of momentum. Demirtaş's subsequent imprisonment was a turning point, symbolizing both the external pressure on the movement and a growing internal fragmentation.

Over time, a power struggle within the party intensified, gradually favoring a more conservative, nationalist, and feudalist faction. In contrast, those aligned with democratic and modern values — once central to the party’s broader appeal — began to distance themselves. This shift first alienated liberal and left-leaning Turkish voters, who had supported the party in hopes of a more inclusive democratic future. Eventually, it also led to a quiet departure of the urban, educated Kurdish middle class, particularly those based in western cities, leaving the party increasingly reliant on its traditional base.

ps: Political views(From top to bottom, left to right);

• Kürt Milliyetcisi - Kurdish Nationalist

• Sosyal Demokrat - Social Democrat

• Solcu, Sosyalist - Left leaning, Socialist

• Atatürkcü - Atatürkist

• Muhafazakar - Conservative

• Diger - Other

• Türk Milliyetcisi - Turkish Nationalist

• Sagci - Right leaning

• Siyasi Görüşüm Yok - No interest in politics

• Islamci - Islamist

Source: Ank-Ar