(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Finland’s National Rally (KOK) is the most popular party in the country if only by a narrow margin, according to a poll by Taloustutkimus released by YLE Radio. 23 per cent of respondents would vote for the KOK in the next legislative election, up 1.1 points since June.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Finland’s National Rally (KOK) is the most popular party in the country if only by a narrow margin, according to a poll by Taloustutkimus released by YLE Radio. 23 per cent of respondents would vote for the KOK in the next legislative election, up 1.1 points since June.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is a close second with 20.5 per cent, followed by the Finnish Centre Party (KESK) with 19.7 per cent, and True Finns (PERUSS) with 10.1 per cent. Support is lower for the Green League (VIHR), the Left Wing League (VAS), 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 Jun. 18, Vanhanen tendered his resignation as KESK leader and prime minister. He had previously announced that he would leave after the party’s convention in June, citing health reasons. Vanhanen has lost popularity over the past year due to his alleged participation in party-funding fraud. He did not give details about his departure.
On Jun. 22, Finnish legislators appointed the KESK’s new leader, Mari Kiviniemi, as the country’s new prime minister. She is the second woman to occupy this office in Finland.
Kiviniemi was immediately sworn in. In her speech, she vowed to focus on "economic stability," "sustainable growth," "equality," and "lowering [greenhouse gas] emissions."
Polling Data
What party would you support in Finland’s next general election?
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Jul. 2010
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Jun. 2010
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Apr. 2010
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National Rally (KOK)
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23.0%
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21.9%
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22.7%
|
|
Social Democratic Party (SDP)
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20.5%
|
21.1%
|
21.3%
|
|
Finnish Centre Party (KESK)
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19.7%
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19.2%
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20.6%
|
|
True Finns (PERUSS)
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10.1%
|
9.8%
|
7.8%
|
|
Green League (VIHR)
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9.5%
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10.6%
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10.3%
|
|
Left Wing League (VAS)
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7.8%
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8.1%
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7.6%
|
|
Christian-Democrats (KD)
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4.3%
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4.2%
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4.8%
|
|
Swedish People’s Party (RKP)
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4.0%
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3.9%
|
3.6%
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Source: Taloustutkimus / YLE Radio
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,900 Finns, conducted in July 2010. Margin of error is 2 per cent.
