(04/07/09) -

Finlands National Rally Holds on to Lead

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Finland’s National Rally (KOK) party holds a slight advantage over its rivals, according to a poll by Taloustutkimus released by YLE Radio News. 23.3 per cent of respondents would support the conservative party in the next general election, down 1.1 points since February.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Finland’s National Rally (KOK) party holds a slight advantage over its rivals, according to a poll by Taloustutkimus released by YLE Radio News. 23.3 per cent of respondents would support the conservative party in the next general election, down 1.1 points since February.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is a close second with 20.6 per cent, followed by the Finnish Centre Party (KESK) with 19.2 per cent, the Green League (VIHR) with 10.1 per cent, True Finns (PERUSS) with 8.9 per cent, the Left Wing League (VAS) with 8.1 per cent, the Swedish People’s Party (RKP) with four per cent, and the Christian-Democrats (KD) with 3.9 per cent.

The KESK’s Matti Vanhanen has been Finland’s prime minister since June 2003, after the resignation of Anneli Jaatteenmaki.

Finnish voters renewed the Diet in March 2007. Final results placed the KESK in first place with 23.1 per cent of the vote and 51 seats, followed closely by the KOK with 22.3 per cent and 50 seats, and the SDP with 21.4 per cent and 45 seats.

In April 2007, Vanhanen formed a coalition government encompassing the KESK, the KOK, the RKP and the VIHR. The four political organizations hold 125 seats in the 200-member Diet. In the previous administration, Vanhanen worked exclusively with the SDP and the RKP.

In October 2008, Finland held municipal elections. The KOK secured 23.4 per cent of the popular vote, while the KESK garnered 21.2 per cent of all cast ballots.

On Mar. 3, Vanhanen said his government is inviting the conservatives and union leaders to discuss the possibility of rising the retirement age in Finland from 63 to 65 years. The prime minister supported the initiative, saying, "We need manpower in an ageing Finland. Gains in lifespan and health present an opportunity for this."

On Mar. 31, KOK member and defence minister Jyrki Hakamies—who is also responsible for policy matters related to state-owned companies—said the government will invite a third party to revise rules of compensation payments for top executives in state-owned firms. The announcement came after revelations that Miikael Lilius, managing director of government-controlled utility Fortum, had received three times his 2008 salary in stock remuneration despite government rules that capped such incentives.

Hakamies declared: "It goes without saying that the level of remunerations has to be reasonable in state-owned companies."

Polling Data

What party would you support in Finland’s next general election?

Source: Taloustutkimus / YLE Radio News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,900 Finns, conducted from Feb. 17 to Mar. 12, 2009. Margin of error is 2 per cent.