Poll: Finns wary of prospect of Putin staying in Russian leadership

Managers favourable toward Putin

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Finns are generally not warmed by the prospect that Vladimir Putin is likely to remain the "national leader" of Russia after the end of his presidential term.
      According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup, fewer than one in four Finns want to see Putin staying on as the de facto leader of Russia after the end of his presidency.
      Putin announced late last month that he was ready to serve as Russia's Prime Minister if his favourite, Deputy Prime minister Dmitri Medvedev, is chosen President in the elections in March. Under Russia's constitution, Putin cannot seek a third consecutive term as President.
      The nearly 1,300 interviews for the poll were taken in late November and early December before the elections for the Russian Duma. At that time the term "national leader" was being used in Russia when referring to Putin, who had not yet made his precise intentions known.
      Of Finnish professional groups, those in managerial positions constituted the only one in which a majority hoped to see Putin continue as Russia's de facto leader.
      In a breakdown according to party affiliation, supporters of the Finnish Social Democratic Party were the most accepting of a continued Putin leadership, while supporters of the Green League had the most negative views, with seven out of ten coming out against the idea.
Views diverged sharply on whether or not Russia's recent actions on the world stage were a threat to Finland.
      Nearly two out of five saw Russia as a threat, while approximately the same number did not consider Russia to be frightening.
      The proportion of those not answering this question was fairly high. One in four did not take a stand.
      "When we go into questions of international politics that are considered difficult, it is to be expected that one fourth or one fifth will not take a stand", says Juhani Pehkonen, head of research at Suomen Gallup.
     
A majority of supporters of the conservative National Coalition Party also see Russia as a threat. Opinions among the party's supporters tend to reflect the views of Defence minister Jyri Häkämies who said in a speech in Washington in September that Russia was the main security policy challenge for Finland.
      Half of supporters of the Greens see Russia as a threat to Finland. In recent years, Green MP Heidi Hautala has been an outspoken critic of the political and human rights situation in Russia.
      On the left, Russia is seen as less of a threat to Finland by supporters of the Social Democratic Party and the Greens.
      Men tend to have a more negative view of Russia than women. Those over the age of 60 are also more likely to see Russia as a threat.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Estonian PM concerned about prospect of Putin staying in power in Russia (30.10.2007)
  Human rights activists held for questioning in Russia (8.10.2007)
  Stalin portrayed as hero in new Russian school textbook (6.11.2007)
  NEWS ANALYSIS: Finland avoids criticising Russian elections (5.12.2007)
  EDITORIAL: Relations with Russia - blasts from the past (19.10.2007)
  Finnish PM expresses concern at treatment of Russian opposition (28.11.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat