Finns want a president who is a strong leader who defends the everyday security of their nation. However, a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup reveals that voters do not feel that Presidential powers would need to extend to foreign and security policy.
The poll, examining the basis on which Finns are choosing a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, shows that while they do not expect the head of state to wield much actual decision-making power, the people hope that the prestige of the office will influence other decision-makers.
Finns primarily want their president to protect the welfare society. The second-most important task is that of maintaining overall awareness of important issues; Finns want their leader to encourage political decision-makers to seek new ways of improving the economy and boosting employment.
The third-most important hope that Finns have for their president is to prevent international terrorism from taking a foothold in Finland.
The issue of whether or not a candidate supports possible Finnish membership in NATO is not a key factor in choosing a candidate.
The priority of various issues in the minds of individual voters correlates little with which candidate they support. Defending the welfare society is important for supporters of all three main candidates - incumbent Social Democratic candidate Tarja Halonen, the National Coalition Party’s Sauli Niinistö, and the Centre Party’s Matti Vanhanen. However, supporters of Vanhanen and Niinistö tend to put a slightly higher priority on fighting terrorism than do supporters of President Halonen.
President Halonen’s supporters are more likely than others to feel that the President of the Republic should attend summit meetings of the European Union. Social equality is also a key concern for the incumbent’s supporters.
Halonen’s supporters are staunchly opposed to the idea of NATO membership. Support for NATO is higher among supporters of Sauli Niinistö. Niinistö’s supporters take a more positive view than others toward the idea that the president should be active in establishing a defence capability for the EU.
Vanhanen’s supporters are more likely than others to want to increase resources for national defence, and to defend traditional family values.
The poll also shows little support for any further cuts in presidential powers in Finland. Only two percent of voters want to turn the office of the Presidency into a purely ceremonial one.
