Poll: Nearly a third of Finns uncertain about Nato

A poll conducted for the Reservists Association found that around a third of those answering were unable to say whether they support Finnish membership of the alliance, Yle News reports. The poll found the greatest uncertainty about Nato among women and the young.

Just under a third of Finns have not made their minds up about joining Nato, according to a new poll released by the Reservists’ Association. Some 40 percent of respondents were opposed to Nato membership, 28 percent were in favour, while nearly 32 percent of those answering couldn’t or wouldn’t say.

Female respondents and those aged 15-22 were less sure of Nato membership than other groups, while those aged over 50 were most likely to be sure of their position.

The Reservists’ Association conducted a poll of reservists last week that showed more than half of them favour Nato membership. The picture among the general population is more hesitant, but the association’s managing director Olli Nyberg says the poll results show that many Finns are now considering the matter very seriously.

"Of course this certainly stems from the uncertain situation these days," said Nyberg. "People don’t really know where they’re going. That’s why opinions are less stable than they have been at some points before."

Nato membership and defence policy in general has crept up the political agenda as the Ukraine crisis has progressed. Finland has emphasised closer defence co-operation with other Nordic countries, but no party except the Left Alliance has said they would rule out Nato membership in the next parliament.

Nearly 40 percent of men polled were in favour of Nato membership while just a fifth of women were of the same opinion. The most positive demographic was 56-70-year-olds in the south of Finland.

Around a thousand people answered the poll, which was conducted by Innolink and has a +-3% margin of error.

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