A survey shows that the Finnish electorate is turning towards more right-wing policies and would prefer a new government base three months before April’s general elections, according to a survey by Maaseudun Tulevaisuus.
The survey published on Monday by Maaseudun Tulevaisuus, which is close to the Centre party, shows that the most favoured future government among the voters would be one including the Social Democrats (SDP) and the liberal-conservative National Coalition party (NCP) currently in the opposition. Such a coalition was preferred by about 27% of respondents. A pure right-wing government gathered 19% support.
The poll’s result and the wish for a blue-and-red coalition may be proof of citizens’ concerns about the future of the welfare state. According to a recent survey by Helsingin Sanomat, 75% of Finns expected public services to be pruned.
The state deficit is high, a recession is creeping in, and cuts and tax increases appear inevitable. People believe the painful measures are best carried out by a government crossing the right and left divide.
A party poll published on 23 December showed that the National Coalition Party has 23.5% support. The two other parties on the podium were Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s SDP, with 19.1% and the populist-nationalistic Finns Party, with 17.9%. Trailing far behind were the Centre Party (9.9%), the Greens (9.8%) and the Left Alliance (8.0%).
General elections take place on 2 April.
(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
