A majority of Finns say that they would approve of cooperation among the parties of the political centre and right in the second round of next year’s Presidential elections.
According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup, a clear majority do not believe that the appeal of such a candidate would be enough to block the re-election of President Tarja Halonen, if she is the Social Democratic Party’s candidate.
Only one third of respondents felt that the appeal of such a common candidate would have any effect on voter behaviour if President Halonen were to seek a second term.
Respondents were asked if they approve or disapprove of the discussions that have been held between the Centre Party and the conservative National Coalition Party on support for a common non-socialist candidate for the second round of Presidential elections.
Overwhelming majorities of supporters of the Centre and National Coalition Parties expressed approval for cooperation between the parties, as did 54% of supporters of the Social Democratic Party, even though SDP Party Secretary Eero Heinäluoma had previously sharply condemned any such moves.
Only 32% of supporters of the Left Alliance expressed approval of a centre-right Presidential alliance, while 48% expressed no opinion.
There was general scepticism among supporters of all parties on the effect that centre-right cooperation might have on the outcome of the election. Only about one in four Social Democratic Party supporters felt that there would be any effect on the outcome if President Halonen were seeking re-election. Optimism was not very high among supporters of the parties that would be involved in such an alliance; only 43% of Centre Party voters and 46% of National Coalition Party supporters believed that cooperation in the Presidential elections would have any effect.
The poll was conducted between March 15th and 23rd, and involved interviews with 1,001 Finns aged 15 and over from all parts of the country except the Åland Islands.
The margin of error was put at three percentage points.
