Lead of Finland's right-wing opposition narrows as parliament election looms

Finland's nationalist Finns party's leader Riikka Purra holds a campaign rally and greets voters in the city center of Helsinki, Finland, March 15, 2023. REUTERS/Essi Lehto

Finland is headed for a close-fought parliament election on April 2, with the three largest parties in a near dead heat, an opinion poll published by daily Helsingin Sanomat showed on Tuesday.

Support for the right-wing opposition National Coalition Party declined by one percentage point from last week to 19.8%, narrowly ahead of the ruling Social Democrats and the nationalist Finns Party with support of 19.2% each.

The leader of the largest party in Finland normally becomes prime minister, provided he or she can put together a coalition.

Chairperson of The National Coalition Party Petteri Orpo celebrates winning the municipal elections after returning from the tv's election night reception to his party's election day reception, in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2021. Lehtikuva/Mikko Stig/via REUTERS

The outcome of Sunday's vote will thus decide whether National Coalition leader Petteri Oropo or Finns Party leader Riikka Purra can replace Prime Minister Sanna Marin of the Social Democrats.

With as many as 10 parties currently represented in parliament, the ultimate formation of a government will likely be subject to post-election coalition talks lasting weeks.

The March 9-25 poll by Kantar Public has a margin of error of 2.1 percentage points.

Finnish Prime Minister, Chair of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Sanna Marin votes at the Main Library Metso in early voting, ahead of the April 2 parliamentary elections, in Tempere, Finland, March 25, 2023. Lehtikuva/Mika Kylmaniemi/via REUTERS

(Reporting by Essi Lehto, editing by Terje Solsvik)