A vast majority of Finnish people opposed the cuts in various sectors including education, culture, health and social services taken by the four-party alliance government led by conservative Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP), according to a survey commissioned by the Foundation for Municipal Development (Kaks).
About 80 percent of the respondents strongly opposed cuts in municipal education and cultural services while 76 percent opposed cuts in healthcare services provided by wellbeing services counties, said the survey results released on Saturday.
A clear majority of respondents (68%) opposed cuts in social welfare and unemployment benefits and 66% opposed cuts in pension.
About 70 percent opposed increases in government borrowing, 55% opposed measures including raising taxes and 54% opposed reduction in central government transfers to municipalities.
Out of 13 proposed measures, only two received clear majority support.
About 64 percent supported postponing large public procurement projects while 60 percent supported reducing corporate subsidies.
The Prime Minister Petteri Orpo-led government formed with Kokoomus, Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), Suomenruotsalainenkansanpuolue (Swedish People’s Party of Finland-RKP) and Suomen Kristillisdemokraati (Christian Democratic Party-CD) took austerity measures in various sectors in the last three years.
The survey was conducted by research organisation Verian from March 28 to April 1, 2026 through interviewing 1020 people.
The margin error is under ± 3 percentage points.
