Interest rising for March Parliamentary election
HS "election thermometer" gauges interest in poll
|
|
|
Public interest in the Parliamentary elections in March is on the increase.
In a survey commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat, respondents were asked to rate their degree of interest in the elections on the Celsius temperature scale between 35 degrees above, and 35 below freezing. The average amount of interest was just under +6 degrees.
The survey was conducted by Suomen Gallup.
Nearly 60 percent of respondents rated their interest in the elections to be on the plus side of the scale.
Respondents were also asked to rate their perception of the interest of the public at large. On average, overall interest in elections was estimated to be a cool +4 degrees.
Electoral sentiments were heating up especially among supporters of the National Coalition Party; at +13 degrees, their average election temperatures were more than twice as high as the overall average. However, interviews for the survey were conducted partly before the emergence of the controversy which forced Party Secretary Harri Jaskari to step down, which may have cooled sentiments somewhat.
Supporters of the Left Alliance are nearly as interested in the upcoming elections as supporters of the National Coalition Party are.
The coolest attitudes toward the elections at this point are among supporters of the Green Party: at slightly below +5 degrees, it is one degree below that of Finns on the average.
Supporters of the Centre Party and the Social Democrats have warmed up to the election to a higher degree than the overall average.
Interest in the elections increases with age. Whereas the election temperature of those aged 18 to 24 is close to zero, the 50 to 64 age bracket gives an average reading of more than 10 degrees.
There are regional differences, with the Uusimaa region and the Helsinki area at a warmer level than rural areas.
Office workers, managers, and pensioners all average more than +10 degrees, while entrepreneurs and farmers take a cooler attitude.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 25.10.2006 - TODAY |
 Interest rising for March Parliamentary election
|
|
