Finland's PM-elect Petteri Orpo (NCP) says that he aims to decide which parties to invite for formal coalition negotiations before May Day.
The official talks would then begin on 2 May at the House of the Estates in Helsinki's Kruununhaka neighbourhood.
"As I have said before, it is more important to get a good common understanding and viewpoint to form a basis for good chances to succeed in the official government formation negotiations," said Orpo at a press conference on Wednesday.
He did not offer a view on individual parties' answers to his 46 questions on different policy areas, which were submitted on Tuesday.
Next Monday and Tuesday Orpo plans to hold meetings with each of the parties to seek clarification on their answers.
"Among other things the economic, employment and growth questions are such that a lot remains open," said Orpo. "These should be negotiated and discussed. It is clear that there are differences between the parties on means, but that is why there will now be follow-up discussions."
Orpo was asked if there are things that might prevent a coalition between the National Coalition, Finns Party, Christian Democrats and Swedish People's Party being formed.
He said that nearly all the parties' answers offer a building block for a coalition.
"That gives a chance for a different kind of coalition as well," said Orpo, who is currently engaged in unofficial discussions with different groups to clarify issues and help set the boundaries of the official talks.
Official bilateral discussions with each parliamentary group will take place next Monday and Tuesday. After that there is still time to ask further questions and seek clarification.
Orpo told reporters that all parties in parliament want to safeguard the Nordic welfare state and its services, but there are differences of opinion on how that should be achieved. Finding compromises is his task.
"I don't want to play down the size of the mountain we have to climb in government formation negotiations," said Orpo. "We have to go through everything in the state budget, look at what is not absolutely necessary and what can be done better, look at where we could get new income without damaging growth."