A new nationwide survey shows Antti Lindtman as the favorite to become Finland's next prime minister. The Social Democratic Party leader received support from 18 percent of respondents. He ranked first among both male and female voters in the comprehensive poll.
Center Party leader Antti Kaikkonen placed second with 12 percent support. Current Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of the National Coalition Party followed with 10 percent. Finns Party chair Riikka Purra received 9 percent backing.
The survey revealed striking generational divides in political preferences. Among voters aged 18-30, Green Party leader Sofia Virta emerged as the most popular choice with 20 percent support. In this youngest demographic, Lindtman received only 8 percent support while Kaikkonen got 6 percent.
Support for both Lindtman and Kaikkonen increased steadily with respondent age. Among those over 65, Kaikkonen led with 28 percent support while Lindtman followed with 20 percent. This pattern suggests traditional parties maintain stronger support among older Finns.
Riikka Purra placed second among young voters with 12 percent support. She also ranked second among respondents aged 55-64. Support for other party leaders remained relatively consistent across age groups.
The survey included 1,018 Finnish adults from mainland Finland. Research firm Kantar Agri conducted the polling between October 24-30. The results have a margin of error of approximately three percentage points.
Fourteen percent of respondents felt none of current party leaders would make a suitable prime minister. Another 15 percent remained undecided about their preference.
These results come amid ongoing political discussions about Finland's future direction. The country faces important decisions about economic policy, social welfare, and international relations. Voter preferences will shape coalition negotiations following the next parliamentary elections.
Political analysts note that generational divides in party preference reflect broader societal trends. Younger voters appear more drawn to environmental and progressive policies. Older voters show stronger attachment to established parties and traditional approaches.
The survey provides valuable insights for political strategists preparing for upcoming elections. Understanding these demographic patterns helps parties tailor their messages to different voter segments. The results also highlight the challenge of building broad coalitions across generational lines.
Finland's multi-party system requires cooperation between political groups. No single party typically wins enough support to govern alone. This makes prime minister preferences particularly important for coalition building.
The polling data suggests Finnish politics remains competitive across multiple parties. No single leader dominates public opinion. This creates opportunities for various political combinations in future governments.