Finnish people have been increasingly identifying themselves as politically right-wing, a new survey found.
Half the country, or 49 per cent, defined themselves as right-wing, the Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA) found in its annual values and attitudes research published on July 15.
By contrast, only 31 per cent, identified with the Left, while 19 per cent considered themselves centrist.
The proportion of people classifying themselves as very right-wing has increased compared to the previous measurement of 2021.
At the same time, the number of people classifying themselves in the political centre has decreased and the number of left-wingers has remained almost unchanged, EVA noted.
The majority (53 per cent of Finns) placed themselves on the Liberal side of the ideological spectrum, while one quarter considered themselves Conservatives.
Young people, students and university-educated individuals identified most as Liberals.
Finns were ideologically divided into four main groups: Left-wing liberals (24 per cent), right-wing liberals (22 per cent), right-wing Conservatives (18 per cent) and a centrist or intermediate group that fell between these categories (32 per cent). Only a small minority (5 per cent) identify as left-wing Conservatives.
EVA’s head of communications Mikko Laakso, told the newspaper Helsinki Times that the findings suggested a growing polarisation. “Finns no longer seek their identity in the centre,” he said.
“More people are choosing a side, especially the Right, and doing so more deliberately.”
Laakso noted that liberalism was strongly tied to left-wing identity, while the Right included both Liberals and Conservatives. This reflected broader ideological fragmentation within the Right, which has grown more divided in recent years.
Despite the ideological shift to the Right, Finland’s right-wing government was not very popular and public support was low.
Socialists have been leading in the polls and a recent survey found that most Finns did not regard the government’s performance as successful.
