According to the latest public opinion survey, 72.1% of Turkish citizens do not trust the government’s economic management, and 35% of respondents stated that they do not trust it at all. These figures reflect deep public concern over the state of the economy, which has become one of the key issues shaping social sentiment in recent years.

The rise in distrust is not a one-time spike but part of a broader trend of dissatisfaction gradually building within Turkish society. Several surveys indicate that the majority of citizens believe the country’s economic situation is moving in the wrong direction: a MetroPOLL study showed that more than 75% of respondents assess the government’s economic policy negatively, citing inflation and declining purchasing power as the main sources of their discontent.

Economic factors are key to understanding public sentiment. Turkiye has faced high inflation, significant volatility of the national currency, and rising living costs over several years. Although official data show a decline in inflation from a peak of 85.5% in 2022 to around 30–40%, independent estimates suggest that actual price growth rates remain higher. This means that many families still feel pressure on their budgets: the cost of food, housing, transportation, and services is rising faster than incomes, undermining the sense of stability.

Discontent with the economic situation reflects not only everyday hardships but also political criticism of the authorities. In recent months, several surveys have recorded growing dissatisfaction with the government overall, presenting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his team with one of the most serious political challenges in years. Electorate assessments show that even among supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), a noticeable share expresses doubts about the success of economic policy.

The problem of distrust is exacerbated by a weak business climate: business sentiment indicators have shown declining confidence among producers, dropping to multi-month lows amid worsening export and production expectations. This affects not only domestic investment decisions but also Turkiye’s perception as an economic partner abroad.

Nevertheless, the country’s economy continues to grow. In the second quarter of 2025, Turkiye’s GDP grew by 4.8%, reflecting sustained economic growth over several consecutive years and indicating the presence of structural support factors. Analysts also point to more positive forecasts from international organizations such as the World Bank, which identified Turkiye as a regional growth driver and predicted acceleration of economic activity in 2025–2027.

The gap between economic data and public perception is explained by a combination of factors: unequal distribution of benefits, insufficient perception of material improvement in daily life, historically high inflation and currency fluctuations, and the impact of political decisions on the country’s economic future.

 

Experts argue that if the government fails to demonstrate tangible improvements in real income levels, price reductions, and trust in institutions, public dissatisfaction could evolve into a more sustained political crisis. The low level of Turkish trust in the government’s economic management is not only a reaction to current economic difficulties but also a symptom of a deeper disconnect between the population and the country’s leadership, which could have long-term consequences for political stability and social cohesion.

CCBS Expert Group

#ANALYSIS

#TURKIYE

17.02.2026 11:49