The top spot in the upcoming April elections is still up for grabs as three parties are currently neck-and-neck in the race to form a coalition that will most likely not be a repeat of the current five-party coalition, the latest polls show.

With less than a month before the parliamentary elections in Finland, a clear winner has yet to emerge, according to the latest polls.

Though all polls suggest that the current five-party government led by the Social Democrats will most likely not be formed for a second time, voters are divided on who could grab the top spot.

According to the latest poll, for example, the liberal-conservative National Coalition Party (20.8%), the Social Democrats (19.9%) and the nationalistic Finns Party (19%) are competing shoulder to shoulder – meaning the next prime minister could either be Petteri Orpo, Sanna Marin or Riikka Purra.

The same applies to which parties would form the next ruling coalition.

One poll published by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA) on Tuesday, showed that most voters (23%) favour a right-wing government between the National Coalition Party (NCP) and the Finns Party.

Another one, published the day before by the rural newspaper Maaseudun Tulevaisuus, gave preference to NCP forming a coalition with the Social Democrats.

Voters are indeed quite in favour (27%) of being ruled by a government that brings together the left and the right side of the political aisle, the poll also showed.

With the economy and high government debt being the most debated issue ahead of the elections, parties are proposing ways to find a convincing balance between inevitable cuts and taxation.

(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)