Authors

• Gallup Finland

Keywords

elections, government policy, local government elections, parliamentary elections, political attitudes, political behaviour, political parties, political support, voting behaviour

Abstract

The survey studied the attitudes of the Finns towards different political parties. The respondents were asked how favourably or negatively they view the Centre Party of Finland, the Finnish Social Democratic Party, the National Coalition Party, the Left Alliance, and the Green League. A number of attributes and characteristics were listed and the respondents were asked to which party they could be applied. The respondents assessed various aspects of government performance: its EU policies, national economy improvement, security and defence policy, taxation, protection of the environment, energy production, housing, and taking care of the needs of various groups. In addition, the respondents were asked about the significance of the party leader to a party. There were several questions about voting behaviour. The respondents were asked for what party or group they would vote if the elections were held at that time, and why they would do so. The respondents were asked what party they had voted for in the 1995 parliamentary elections and in the 1996 municipal elections. In addition, the respondents were asked whether they took care of buying groceries or cooking in the household.

Background variables included the respondent's year of birth, marital status, gross annual income, place of residence, economic activity, field of employment, trade union membership, and mother tongue.