Presidents wield significant influence over public opinion even within parliamentary systems.

This study uses a survey experiment conducted among Turkish citizens to investigate precisely how presidents shape perceptions and attitudes.

The findings reveal nuanced effects on both descriptive representation beliefs (do citizens view their president as representing them?) and substantive policy opinions. Presidents are shown to impact views across multiple issue domains, though the strength of this effect varies considerably based on factors like media exposure and political context.

These results underscore the continued relevance of presidents in contemporary Turkish politics despite its parliamentary structure.

Data & Methods:

Survey Experiment conducted with 1,500 Turkish citizens aged 18–65.

* Sample: Representative sample across urban/rural divides and education levels

* Methodology: Randomized question prompt assignment to test presidential influence on various political perceptions

Key Findings:

Presidents consistently shape public opinion in measurable ways.

* On descriptive representation beliefs (how well does the president represent me?): Strong positive correlation between media exposure to presidents and increased belief in their representativeness despite parliamentary structure.

* On substantive policy opinions: Significant shifts observed across multiple domains following presidential communication exposure

* Variation exists based on recipient demographics, particularly education level and urban/rural residence

Why It Matters:

This research highlights the evolving role of executives in democratic systems.

> Implications for Political Science Research: It challenges assumptions about the diminished power of presidents in parliamentary democracies by demonstrating measurable public opinion effects.