HS-Gallup | The vast majority of Finns do not want Finland to change its legislation or abandon its principles because of Turkey

Finns NATO support has once again reached a new record.

According to the recent HS-Gallup, 79 per cent of Finns want Finland to join NATO. There are 11 per cent of opponents and 10 per cent do not know how to express their opinion.

In a previous survey conducted in early May, NATO support was 73 percent, which was also the highest reading in Helsingin Sanomat’s measurement history.

HS asked this time also whether Finland should agree to the conditions set by Turkey for Finland’s membership in NATO if they required the laws to be amended or compromised on some of Finland’s principles.

A clear majority, or 70 per cent, was of the opinion that Finland should not change its legislation or abandon its principles because of Turkish conditions. Only 14 per cent considered it possible for Finland to give up. The rest could not take a stand.

The vast majority of all the population groups surveyed are of the opinion that Finland should not make concessions to Turkey. The strictest position on concessions was on the left and the Greens. Basic Finns were most willing to make concessions.

Turkey has opposed Finland’s and Sweden’s membership of NATO, claiming that they are too lax about terrorism, among other things. Finland and Sweden do not share Turkey’s view.

NATO support the growth is due to a decrease in the share of uncertainties.

The proportion of uncertainties has halved in two months, as in April about one in five stated their position “can’t say”. Now every tenth is uncertain about his position.

Support for NATO membership has increased in almost all sections of the population. Support has grown particularly much among those earning less than € 20,000.

More and more managers or senior employees, from southern Finland, aged 60–69 and a moderate leftist, have also begun to support membership.

Of the parties, the Coalition Party is the most supportive of NATO membership. More than 90% of them support membership.

In the past, left-wing Allies in particular have been much more cautious about NATO membership. Support for membership among left-wing allies has increased by ten percentage points since May and is now around 60 percent.

NATO’s popularity has also risen by ten percent among supporters of the center. Now about 90 percent of downtowners support membership.

HS is asked citizens for NATO positions for 20 years. The results of the new and old surveys are not fully comparable, as the survey method was changed in February – March this year.

In the past, NATO polls were conducted through telephone interviews, but in February-March the Internet panel was used as the method.

Gallup, conducted by telephone interviews, was last conducted in January. At the time, NATO support was 28 percent, a record figure by then.