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 poverenja premijeru, koji se suočio sa kritikama zbog svog zapovedničkog načina vladanja, kao i sa novim izazovom od strane glavne opozicione stranke u parlamentu Republikanske narodne stranke (CHP).