Purra Emerges as Top Choice for PM Among Finnish Small Business Owners

Finance Minister Riikka Purra has overtaken Prime Minister Petteri Orpo as the preferred candidate to lead the government among small and medium-sized enterprise representatives.

A recent survey commissioned by the Federation of Finnish Enterprises shows that 20 percent of respondents back the Finns Party leader for the top job.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of the National Coalition Party ranked second in the poll. He received 17 percent of the support from respondents.

If parliamentary elections were held today, 29 percent of business representatives would vote for the National Coalition Party. The Finns Party follows in second place with 19 percent support, while the opposition Centre Party stands at 11 percent.

This represents a significant shift in political preferences from a year ago. In previous polling, the National Coalition Party held a commanding lead with 36 percent, while the Finns Party trailed at 13 percent.

The changing preferences somehow align with broader economic concerns across Finland. Earlier in 2026, credit rating agencies downgraded the country’s economic outlook due to slow growth and rising public debt.

Purra has spearheaded strict austerity measures and fiscal discipline in her role as Finance Minister. This approach to the national economy seems to have strongly resonated with local business owners.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are a vital part of the Finnish economy. They make up the vast majority of companies and provide most private-sector employment.

The survey was conducted during the first half of August by research firm Verian. It gathered responses from nearly 1,100 enterprise representatives, with a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points.