HS Gallup: health care, elderly, schools key issues in municipal elections
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Health care and care for the elderly are overwhelmingly the most important themes in next month’s municipal elections, according to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup.
Funding for schools, the quality of drinking water, and security of the immediate surroundings are also seen as important. The same issues topped the list four years ago, before the previous local elections.
There was a slight change in emphasis from 2004. Now more voters than before want to inject competition, and to do more outsourcing in municipal services. There is also more interest in developing public transport and urban culture, as well as in theatre and other cultural services.
Library services, supporting businesses, alcohol and drugs on the streets, support for home care of children, and recreational services for young people are not prioritised as much as last time.
Supporters of political parties differed in their answers somewhat from those of the population on average.
Supporters of the Centre Party of Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen put a higher priority on home care of children, child daycare, and the problem of prostitution. Centre Party supporters were less interested in public transport than others.
Supporters of the conservative National Coalition Party, the other large party in the four-party coalition government, saw introducing competition and outsourcing into municipal services, supporting enterprise, and municipal finances as more important than most others did. Poverty issues and and rental housing were seen as less important by National Coalition Party supporters.
Supporters of the opposition Social Democratic Party emphasised child day care, as well as municipal mergers and cooperation among local authorities. Support for business was seen as less important.
Supporters of the Left Alliance expect action to benefit those who are economically less well off. They are also interested in library services and rental accommodation more often than supporters of other parties.
Support for business activities and for home care for children are not high priorities for supporters of the Left Alliance.
Supporters of the Green League emphasise the development of urban culture, public transport, library services, planning of recreational areas and parks, and support for the poor. Quality of drinking water, as well as alcohol and drugs on the streets are less important as election themes.
Women see nearly all issues to be more important than men do. The difference is especially great in issues involving immigration, taxation, prostitution, alcohol, drugs, and care for the elderly.
Young voters are more interested in recreational and sports services than older voters.
The poll was taken by Internet interview between September 6th and 11th.
Respondents were given 29 topics, which they were asked to rank in importance on a four-point scale.
The research system of Suomen Gallup has installed a special Internet connection in more than 1,000 homes in Finland. The interviewees were chosen so that they would form a representative sampling of the voting-age public. The Åland Islands were not included in the study.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 22.9.2008 - TODAY |
 HS Gallup: health care, elderly, schools key issues in municipal elections |
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