The referendum was viewed by many as a vote of confidence in the prime minister, who has faced criticism for his domineering leadership style, as well as a renewed challenge by the main opposition party in parliament, the Republican People's Party (CHP).
Mnogi vide referendum kao glas povjerenja premijeru, koji se sučelio s kritikama zbog svojeg zapovjedničkog načina vladanja, kao i s novim izazovom od strane vodeće oporbene stranke u parlamentu Republikanske narodne stranke (CHP).