Poll: President Halonen remains very popular

Political scientist says Halonen may seek UN post rather than run for second term

Tarja Halonen

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There is little change in the public approval rating of President Tarja Halonen since the last time that it was measured in May.
      According to the poll, commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup, 89% of the people give Halonen a "fairly good", or "very good" rating, compared with 93% in May.
      The survey involved telephone interviews with about 1,000 Finns above the age of 15, and was conducted from December 7th to the 11th.
      Those ranking Halonen’s performance as very good comprised 48% of the respondents, which is 16 points higher than in May. There was also an increase in the proportion of respondents ranking her performance as "fairly poor"; in May the figure was 7%, and by December it had jumped to 13%.
     
The poll also gives Halonen high marks for her leadership of Finnish foreign policy, with 82% of the people ranking her performance as fairly good or very good.
      The poll comes in the wake of criticism of Finland’s foreign policy line by a number of public figures (see link).
      Halonen gets high approval ratings among supporters of all of Finland’s political parties. She also does slightly better among women than men.
     
Political scientist, Professor Göran Djupsund of the Swedish-language university Åbo Akademi predicts that President Halonen will not seek a second term as President in the elections of 2006.
      In an interview with the Finnish News Agency, STT, during the weekend, he said that Halonen is probably vying for a high post at the United Nations.
      According to Professor Djupsund, Halonen’s recent activities suggest that she is interested in international tasks. He mentions her focus on issues related to globalisation, and her cautious views on the EU’s rapid deployment forces and the stands that she has taken on the issue of infantry land mines.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  President Halonen responds to critics of foreign policy line (26.11.2004)
  Vanhanen rejects claim that government has no foreign policy (22.11.2004)
  Slight decline in Halonen’s popularity; first drop during four years in office (10.5.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat