Turkey's referendum race is still neck and neck: Konda pollster

The race ahead of the April 16 referendum on constitutional changes shifting Turkey to an executive presidential system is still close, with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) needing to convince the undecideds among its constituency, according to Bekir Ağırdır, the general director of polling company Konda. 

"We see some undecided even among the core loyalist constituency of the AKP," Ağırdır told the Hürriyet Daily News.
 

Tell us about the general picture of opinion over the last two years, leading up to the latest situation ahead of the April 16 referendum.

First, in this time we have had four elections based on identity politics, with identities confined to four political parties. Second, there is a hardening polarization based on being pro or anti-AKP. Third, there has been a consolidation in the four parties; the chance of another party making its weight felt does not look possible. Forth, there is a lack of political rivalry, as there is no second party that could challenge the AKP.
When it comes to the referendum, a significant segment of society lacks information and interest. And they are right, as this referendum has not been brought about due to society's demands. People are not talking about it - not because they are ignorant but because it does not touch their daily lives. That's why people have not been so enthusiastic from the beginning. The AKP has seen this problem and therefore has based its campaign not on the substance of the changes but rather on polarization.

In addition, there is a process of deepening polarization. We can observe a change in the accusations of each camp against the other, with more hostile terms used by each camp to identify the other. For example, the...