In Yle's monthly tracking poll published on Thursday, support for the National Coalition Party (NCP) dipped by 1.3 percentage points to 20.2 percent. That decline coincided with the defection of Harry 'Hjallis' Harkimo to sit as an independent MP backed by the new 'Liike Nyt' organisation.
The NCP leadership fears Liike Nyt might cost them a couple of seats in parliament, potentially leading to an SDP-Centre coalition government after the next election in 2019.
"Harkimo's departure is certainly one factor," said Tuomo Turja of pollster Taloustutkimus, who carried out the survey for Yle. "Another is Elina Lepomäki's criticism. Our background material suggested that the social and healthcare reform package (also known as 'Sote') still weighs heavily on NCP supporters' minds."
Turja added that the defection of Savonlinna MP Kaj Turunen from Blue Reform to the NCP was not regarded positively in the media, and that the NCP was losing support particularly in Turku, Helsinki and Tampere, the country's three largest cities. Helsinki has been particularly critical of 'Sote' reforms, with NCP politicians from the city leading the charge.
The poll suggests the SDP support is on 20 percent, the Centre up slightly at 17 percent, the Greens are on 14.9 percent and the Left Alliance at 9.1 percent. The Finns Party polled 8.5 percent, the Swedish People's Party 3.7, the Christian Democrats 3.3 and Blue Reform 1.5 percent.
Pollsters spoke to 2,428 people during April, and the poll's margin of error is +- 2.1 percentage points.
