Turkey's government could see its share of the vote rise in next month's general election but its seats in the new parliament fall sharply, according to a comprehensive opinion poll yesterday.

The Justice and Development party (AKP), which has its roots in political Islam, could increase its share of the vote to nearly 42 per cent, from 34 per cent at the last election in 2002, the poll suggested. But with more parties in parliament, and up to 40 independent MPs, the biggest parties would get fewer seats.