(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Finnish people remain divided in their political allegiances, according to a poll by Taloustutkimus released by YLE Radio. 23.6 per cent of respondents would vote for the National Rally (KOK) in the next general election, 21.2 per cent would support the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and 19.6 per cent would back the Finnish Centre Party (KESK).
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Finnish people remain divided in their political allegiances, according to a poll by Taloustutkimus released by YLE Radio. 23.6 per cent of respondents would vote for the National Rally (KOK) in the next general election, 21.2 per cent would support the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and 19.6 per cent would back the Finnish Centre Party (KESK).
Results are practically unchanged since January. The Green League (VIHR) is in fourth place with 10.4 per cent, followed by the Left Wing League (VAS) with 8.3 per cent. Support is lower for True Finns (PERUSS), the Christian-Democrats (KD), and the Swedish People’s Party (RKP).
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. 4, Finnish harbour workers went on strike, demanding better job security. The following day, Vanhanen complained about the consequences of the strike, saying, "This is a very serious conflict. (…) Our economy is in recession and we should be trying to get a hold on the budding global economic growth. We really don’t need these kinds of home-made drawbacks."
Polling Data
What party would you support in Finland’s next general election?
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Feb. 2010
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Jan. 2010
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Dec. 2009
|
|
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National Rally (KOK)
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23.6%
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23.2%
|
23.2%
|
|
Social Democratic Party (SDP)
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21.2%
|
21.0%
|
20.9%
|
|
Finnish Centre Party (KESK)
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19.6%
|
20.7%
|
20.7%
|
|
Green League (VIHR)
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10.4%
|
10.1%
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10.4%
|
|
Left Wing League (VAS)
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8.3%
|
8.1%
|
8.1%
|
|
True Finns (PERUSS)
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6.3%
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6.4%
|
6.2%
|
|
Christian-Democrats (KD)
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4.3%
|
4.6%
|
4.3%
|
|
Swedish People’s Party (RKP)
|
4.1%
|
4.1%
|
4.4%
|
Source: Taloustutkimus / YLE Radio
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,900 Finns, conducted in February 2010. Margin of error is 2 per cent.
