MEP Marjo Matikainen-Kallström is the popular favourite for the post of chair of the National Coalition Party - both among voters of the party and in the population at large.
A poll taken last week and this week shows that 28% of the general population and 34% of National Coalition Party supporters favoured Matikainen-Kallström over her rivals when the party chooses a new leader at its congress in Seinäjoki on Saturday.
The second-most popular is the party’s deputy chairman Ilkka Kanerva, and running in third place is MP Jyrki Katainen.
Kanerva is favoured by 16% of all voters and 25% of the party’s own supporters, while Katainen’s figures are 12% and 19% respectively.
MP Kimmo Sasi has fallen far behind the top three, after losing a good deal of support in the past two weeks.
The National Coalition Party congress begins today, Friday. The new party leader who will replace MP Ville Itälä will be chosen by the more than 900 delegates on Saturday.
The survey, by the market research organisation Taloustutkimus, was conducted between May 27 and June 2, involving telephone interviews with 1,022 people.
