Finland Times

 

Greens MP Pekka Haavisto in the Parliament. File Photo – Lehtikuva.

Opposition Vihreä liitto (Green League) lawmaker Pekka Haavisto is a clear favourite candidate to contest in the next presidential polls against President Sauli Niinistö, if he decides to run another term, said a survey report.

 

The survey commissioned by the Finnish language daily Helsingin Sanomat said 37 per cent of the respondents would vote for Haavisto, if he contests the election. 

 

Ruling Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party) lawmaker and former prime minister Matti Vanhanen emerged the second most favourite candidate with 23 per cent of voters’ support, followed by former speaker of parliament and Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen (Puolue Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) leader Eero Heinäluoma with 22 per cent.

 

SDP’s Jutta Urpilainen was fourth on the list with 20 per cent support, found the survey.

 

The Greens announced a few days ago that they would nominate their own candidate for the 2018 presidential elections. Haavisto is considering whether to run for the elections.

 

The survey was conducted by TNS Gallup in which approximately a thousand people responded. 

 

The margin of error was three per cent in either direction.