Latest poll: Anti-immigrant party gets 8.5% of the vote in Turkey

The latest poll by the polling firm Themis Research, conducted in eight provinces not affected by the recent earthquake, shows a worrying trend of increasing anti-immigrant sentiment and support for the anti-immigrant Victory Party.

According to the results of the company's latest opinion poll on Turkey's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, which will be held on May 14, the Victory Party is expected to receive 8.5% of the vote, indicating a dangerous rise in anti-immigrant sentiment in the country.

The poll asked respondents which political party they would vote for if the election were held today. After counting the undecided votes, the Republican People's Party (CHP) was in the lead with 30.8%, closely followed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) with 27.5%, while the Good (IYI) Party and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were tied with 9.7%. Surprisingly, the Victory Party received 8.5% of the vote, surpassing the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) with 3.6%,

The Victory Party emerged in August 2021 as an ultranationalist body after its chairman, Umit Ozdag resigned from the opposition Good Party. The party, whose main slogan is "The Victory Party will come and the refugees will go," blames refugees for almost all of the country's problems.