Yle poll: Over 40 percent say Finland should recognise the State of Palestine. Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva
- Next Article Finland condemns Israel’s approval of 22 new West Bank settlements
A new poll shows that 44 percent of Finns support the recognition of Palestinian statehood, while 25 percent oppose it. The remaining 31 percent are undecided, according to a survey commissioned by Yle and conducted by Taloustutkimus.
Support for recognition has increased slightly since the previous poll in summer 2024, when 41 percent were in favour and 17 percent were against. The share of undecided respondents has dropped from 42 percent to 31 percent, suggesting firmer opinions are forming.
The findings come amid international debate, with countries such as France and the United Kingdom reportedly considering recognition. Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognised Palestinian statehood in May, further intensifying the discussion in Finland.
President Alexander Stubb has stated that Finland could recognise Palestine if other major powers move in that direction, adding that Finland “will do so at some point.” The government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has not issued a unified position.
The poll revealed sharp divisions along party lines. Voters of the Left Alliance and Green Party showed the highest levels of support, with more than two-thirds in favour. Social Democrat voters also leaned strongly toward recognition.
In contrast, more than two-thirds of Finns Party supporters opposed recognition, making them the most resistant among major party voters. Christian Democrat supporters were mostly opposed, though not as uniformly as the party’s parliamentary group, all of whom opposed recognition in a recent straw poll.
Among National Coalition Party voters, more opposed than supported recognition. Centre Party voters leaned in favour.
A notable gender gap was also observed: women were more likely than men to support recognition. Age differences were less pronounced.
Senior researcher Timo R. Stewart of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs said the issue has become increasingly tied to domestic identity politics.
“In recent years, it’s become a kind of identity politics, which is evident in the positions people take on Palestine,” Stewart said.
He noted that Finland has traditionally supported a two-state solution, and support for Palestinian independence has spanned political lines in the past. The recent polling, however, suggests a widening divide between left- and right-leaning voters.
The survey was conducted in May and included responses from a representative sample of the adult population across Finland.
HT
- Next Article Finland condemns Israel’s approval of 22 new West Bank settlements
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
