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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Three Parties Command Finnish Politics
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Finland's political landscape is practically dominated by two parties belonging to the current coalition government and an opposition organization, according to a poll by Taloustutkimus released by YLE Radio News. 23.6 per cent of respondents would back the conservative National Rally (KOK) in the next election to the Diet.
The Finnish Centre Party (KESK) is a close second with 22.3 per cent, followed by the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) with 21.2 per cent, the Green League (VIHR) with 9.4 per cent, the Left Wing League (VAS) with 8.5 per cent, True Finns (PERUSS) with 4.7 per cent, the Christian-Democrats (KD) with 4.6 per cent, and the Swedish People's Party (RKP) with 4.5 per cent.
Finnish voters renewed the Diet in March. 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.
The KESK's Matti Vanhanen has been Finland's prime minister since June 2003, after the resignation of Anneli Jaatteenmaki. In April, 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, Vanhahen worked exclusively with the SDP and RKP.
On Aug. 12, Jarmo Korhonen, the KESK's party secretary, said Finland should consider taking part in the hybrid African Union (AU)-United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operation in the troubled region of Darfur, in Sudan. Prime minister Vanhanen had earlier said the country lacks the necessary resources to take part in the new force. Korhonen suggested a solution, saying, "Participation is possible when the Finnish peacekeepers' sapper company is brought back from Lebanon in the autumn, thus freeing peacekeeping resources."
Polling Data
What party would you support in Finland's next general election?
Jul. 2007 | Jun. 2007 | May 2007 | |
National Rally (KOK) | 23.6% | 23.9% | 23.4% |
Finnish Centre Party (KESK) | 22.3% | 22.8% | 22.4% |
Social Democratic Party (SDP) | 21.2% | 21.2% | 21.7% |
Green League (VIHR) | 9.4% | 9.3% | 10.1% |
Left Wing League (VAS) | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.4% |
True Finns (PERUSS) | 4.7% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
Christian-Democrats (KD) | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.7% |
Swedish People's Party (RKP) | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.1% |
Source: Taloustutkimus / YLE Radio News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,900 Finns, conducted in July 2007. Margin of error is 2 per cent.
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