Three out of four Finns oppose forced mergers of municipalities
Finns take a very wary view of proposals that would allow the government to force local authorities to merge against their will.
According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup, three out of four Finns are opposed to mandatory mergers, while fewer than one in five are in favour of them.
A majority of supporters of all political parties are against forcibly combining municipalities. Support for mandatory mergers is highest among supporters of the opposition National Coalition Party, and lowest among Centre Party voters.
Forced mergers are rejected in all types of communities all around Finland, but opposition is strongest in rural areas.
Supporters of municipal mergers say that larger units make for greater efficiency in providing municipal services. However, a majority of the respondents in the poll feel that the best way to secure services is through increased cooperation among local authorities - and not by forcing them to merge.
Finland’s Minister for Municipal Affairs Hannes Manninen (Centre) said that in promoting municipal mergers, it is not necessary to go against the will of the people very much. He noted that residents in small municipalities feel that they have more power to influence events affecting their lives.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 1.6.2006 - TODAY |
 Three out of four Finns oppose forced mergers of municipalities
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