Corruption Increasing But Not Affecting Voters Choice

Transparency International declared its opinion research “Corruption in Turkey: Why, How and Where?”.

In the opinion research with 2000 participants across all regions of Turkey, the institutions in which the corruptions are the most prevalent, the reasons of the corruption, the relationship between corruption and the voters’ choice, personal corruption experiences, and the most reliable institutions fighting against corruption were probed.  

As for 67 percent of the participants: Corruption increased

According to the research, while 67 percent of the participants think that the corruption increased within two years, 54 percent of them think it will increase within the next two years. Also, 55 percent of them find insufficient the efforts of the current government against corruption.

In the research, the relationship between the corruption and the voters’ choice were examined as well. Among the participants who vote for AKP, CHP, MHP, HDP in the June 7th elections, 26%, 88%, 88%, and 80% of them respectively think that the corruption increased.

Major reason: Parliamentary immunity and impunity

When the reasons of the corruption are explored, the impunity and the immunity is of 8 .14 percent out of ten. The followings are politics-capital relation with 7.97 percent, tender systems with 7.95, and media-capital relation with 7.94. Along with the other parties, 54 percent of the AKP voters also think that the immunity and the impunity are the major reasons of the corruptions.

Media in 6^th rank

Half of the participants regard local administrations/municipalities and political parties as the most corrupted institutions. Following this, public services with 47 percent, the parliament with 37 percent, the health system with 34 percent, and the media with 30 percent is consider among the other corrupted institutions.

In addition, the procedures related with public tenders, public works, customs and foreign trade, license, tax, and deed are considered as the most corrupted public procedures respectively.

Corruption don’t affect the choice of 48 percent

According to the research results regarding the effects of the corruption on voters' choice, 52 percent of the participants think the corruption will influence the voters choice negatively, 20 percent of them think it depends on economic conditions, and 28 percent of them mention it don't affect negatively.

When the responds of the AKP voters are reviewed, 23 percent of them respond “it affects negatively”, 24 percent of them “it depends on the economic conditions”, and 53 percent of them “it don’t affect negatively”. However, 64, 69, and 74 percent of the voters of CHP, MHP and HDP respectively mention that the corruption affects their voting choice negatively.

28.35 percent of the participants bribed

One of the most striking results of the research is that 28.35 percent of the 2000 participants mention they had to make an unlawful payment or give a present in the recent year. The municipalities place on the top among the institutions accepting illegal payments/presents. Similarly, 61 percent of the participants think that, in order to accomplish the public procedures, having personal contacts would be influential.

Most reliable institution in fighting against corruption: NGOs

84 percent of the participants think that giving present and tip to public officials is a type of corruption, 71 percent of them think the citizens can make a difference in the fight against corruption. However, 88 percent of them didn't file a legal complaint regarding the unlawful payment. As a reason for that, 60 percent of them state that this complaint would be useless.

Also, the NGOs are selected as the most reliable institutions in the fight against corruption. In this list, the media ranks at the last. (NV/HK)

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