Yle's monthly voter support poll shows a new leader in April, as the opposition Social Democrats take the top spot from the National Coalition Party.
This is the first time since November 2023 that the SDP has measured more support in the poll, which was conducted for Yle by Taloustutkimus.
SDP support rose nearly two percentage points to 21.7 percent. The NCP was backed by 20.6 percent of respondents, and the Finns Party by 17.4 percent.
"It's clear that the SDP can keep its own supporters really well at the moment," said Taloustutkimus research head Tuomo Turja. "They have some supporters switching from their main competitors, the Finns Party and the National Coalition."
The SDP increased its support the most among women and young adults aged 25-35.
Cuts spook women and young adults
Polling took place between 11 March and 2 April. During that period, the public debate focused on political strikes and government spending cuts. Housing benefit cuts, for instance, came into force at the start of April.
The poll's background data suggests that women were especially likely to switch allegiance. Both the National Coalition and the Finns Party have lost female backers.
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