Poll: True Finns reach double digits, overtaking Greens

Timo Soini

print this

Public support for the opposition True Finns party led by MEP Timo Soini has gone past 10 per cent.
      A poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup gives the True Finns 10.5 per cent public support, exceeding that of the Green League, which gets just 9.3% according to the survey.
      The poll shows that in addition to the True Finns, only the Centre Party has increased its public approval. However, all changes fall within the range of the margin of error.
     
All other parties have lost support since the previous HS Gallup conducted in July.
      The Social Democratic Party dipped below 20% for the first time in this electoral term, with just 19.9 per cent. The opposition SDP nevertheless remains the second-largest party, coming just ahead of the Centre Party, which gets 19.5%, a half-point gain compared with July.
      The National Coalition Party remains the largest party, polling 22.6%.
     
The Left Alliance trails the True Finns and the Greens, with just 8.2 per cent support, while the Christian Democrats get 4.5% and the Swedish People’s Party 4.1%.
      The survey also indicates an increase in voter uncertainty, with just 37 per cent saying that they are certain of their present choice.
      Certainty has declined especially among supporters of the National Coalition Party, while supporters of the Left Alliance are more confident of their choice than before..
      The poll involved interviews with 2,400 Finns in the period between August 16th and September 3rd. The margin of error with the larger parties is two percentage points.
     
Finland will go to the polls for real in Parliamentary elections next April. The True Finns leader Timo Soini has already voiced the hope that the party will be able to claim some seats in the new government to be formed after that election.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Poll: Support for National Coalition Party slightly declining (21.6.2010)

See also:
  NEWS ANALYSIS: The True Finns. Not just populists any more (7.9.2010)

Helsingin Sanomat