Finland’s opposition gain popularity as Greens suffer major slump

Two opposition parties have gained popularity at the government’s expense, a new poll commissioned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) has found. The Greens, however, have fallen to their lowest numbers in six years.

Topping the poll released on Thursday was the liberal-conservative National Coalition Party (NCP). Focusing on its traditional trademark, economic policy, the party polled 21.8%.

The nationalistic Finns Party narrowly edge out the Social Democrats down to third place. The Finns Party has received a boost from rising petrol prices and immigration and refugee policies that it considers are currently too liberal. The party’s support is now 18.7%.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Social Democratic Party is fractionally up to 18.3% support. Otherwise, the five-party government of the Social Democrats, the Centre Party, the Greens, the Left Alliance and the Swedish People’s Party did not have much reason to celebrate.

One of the most notable results of the survey was the 1.3% fall for the Green party, taking them to 10.1%. Political analysts say the party’s liberal refugee policy and forest policy have caused the drop.

(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)