Poll: National Coalition Party and Greens making gains in Helsinki – SDP slides back to 3rd place

Parties drawing up candidate lists for October municipal elections

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The Green League appears to have reclaimed its position as the second-most popular party in Helsinki. According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by TNS Gallup, the National Coalition Party is the overwhelming party in Helsinki, getting the support of nearly 30 per cent.
      In last year’s parliamentary elections, the Social Democratic Party got nearly 3,000 more votes in Helsinki than the Greens did. However, the HS Gallup now gives the Greens 22.6 per cent support in Helsinki against just 14 per cent for the SDP. The gap between the two is greater than it was in the municipal elections of 2008.
     
Falling behind the top three in the Finnish capital was the Left Alliance, 9.7 per cent, followed by the Finns Party, whose 9.5 per cent result shows a 3.5 point decline since last year’s parliamentary elections.
      Of the smaller parties in Helsinki, the Swedish People’s Party is holding steady at 5.8 per cent, and the Centre Party has made a slight gain – 5.3 per cent, while the Christian Democrats are getting just 2.1 per cent. Changes with the smaller parties fall within the margin of error.
     
Municipal elections are to be held in Helsinki in October. At present the parties are compiling lists of candidates, most of whom will be named during the spring.
      The new City Council will be faced with many costly and controversial questions, including possible changes to municipal borders in the greater Helsinki area.
      Another key issue is that of Östersundom, formerly a part of Sipoo, which has been annexed by Helsinki, and which needs a new zoning plan. Linked with that will be one of a number of transport questions – the possible eastward expansion of the Helsinki Metro.
     
The new Helsinki City Council will also deal with a new multi-fuel power plant to be built in Vuosaari at a cost expected to reach the hundreds of millions of euros.
      Decisions are also expected on a proposed new library for the centre of Helsinki, and possibly the Guggenheim art museum project, if the present City Council decides to show it a green light.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Electric utility Helsingin Energia wants to reduce annual revenue paid to City of Helsinki by EUR 150 million (15.2.2012)

See also:
  Poll: Only a third of residents want municipal merger in Helsinki region (12.3.2012)
  Small group demonstrates in Helsinki against proposed Guggenheim Museum (12.3.2012)

Links:
  City of Helsinki

Helsingin Sanomat