Sakari Nurmela, Kantar TNS’s research director, said the Social Democrats may have lost their place in the poll due to recovering concerns about the coronavirus epidemic in Finland.
“Like the Finnish Party, they have received public support through their chairman [Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP)]. Marin has been a guarantor in the fight against the coronavirus, but now that the situation seems to have changed, it may be reflected [party’s] popularity, ”he commented on Helsingin Sanomat.
Kantar TNS interviewed 2,462 people in a survey from February 15 to March 12.
The number of infections has risen sharply almost across the country in March, prompting the government to begin preparations for both severe restrictions and curfews. The municipal elections were also recently postponed by a couple of months due to the epidemiological situation, a decision that has been criticized by the Finnish party in particular.
Nurmela also stressed that the opposition party has managed to avoid contradictions in recent months, which may have increased the appeal in the eyes of some voters.
Helsingin Sanomat pointed out that although the respondents were asked to nominate the party of their choice for the parliamentary elections, the results of the survey can be used to draw conclusions about the balance of power in the municipal elections. Municipal elections will be held on June 13.
The Finnish party is clearly prepared to succeed, as it not only consolidated its position at the forefront of the survey, but also gained a record number of candidates – more than 1,500 more than in the 2017 municipal elections.
“The Finnish party is undoubtedly in the best place in its history before the municipal elections,” Nurmela confirmed.
However, one of the party’s year-round questions is whether the party will succeed in mobilizing its supporters and realizing its full voting potential, he recalled.
Elsewhere, the Center’s popularity rose 0.8 percentage points to 11.8 percent, probably as a result of old supporters regaining their support for it. Support from the National Coalition fell 0.4 percentage points to 16.0 per cent after the mayoral candidate withdrew in Helsinki Kirsi Piha.
According to speculation, his surprise draw may be a symptom of internal disagreements within the party. The yard was replaced as the main candidate Juhana Vartiainen.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page