Turkish political parties face shifts in polling and municipal leadership

Recent political polling and municipal shifts in Turkey highlight significant movement between major parties. According to September 2026 research from GENAR, ASAL, and ORC, AK Parti remains the leading party, with GENAR reporting a 36.1% support rate. Yeni Parti has emerged as a strong second contender, with polling results varying between 19.4% and 23.6% depending on the research firm.

Parallel to these polling trends, a dispute has emerged regarding the movement of mayors from the CHP to other parties. CHP sources claim that out of 416 municipalities won in the 2024 local elections, only 113 remain with the CHP, while 173 have moved to Yeni Parti and 39 to AK Parti. Conversely, Yeni Parti sources assert that 252 mayors have joined their ranks. The discrepancy in figures stems from differing definitions of whether a mayor has officially joined a new party or simply resigned from the CHP. The situation is further complicated by several mayors, including Mansur Yavaş, choosing to remain independent.