(L-R) Party leaders Pekka Haavisto of the Green Party, Juha Sipila of the Center Party, Petteri Orpo of the National Coalition Party, Jussi Halla-aho of the Finns Party and Antti Rinne of the Social Democratic Party line up to be interviewed by national broadcaster Yle in Helsinki, Finland, April 14, 2019. Finland's opposition Social Democratic Party is to become the biggest in parliament with 40 seats, the national broadcaster Yle predicted late on Sunday. The prognosis said the Social Democrats would get 40 seats, the populist Finns Party would have 39 seats, and the conservative National Coalition Party, 38. (Xinhua/Finnish Parliament/Hanne Salonen)
HELSINKI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Finland's opposition Social Democratic Party is to become the biggest in parliament with 40 seats, the national broadcaster Yle predicted late on Sunday.
The prognosis said the Social Democrats would get 40 seats, the populist Finns Party would have 39 seats, and the conservative National Coalition Party, 38.
The Center Party would become the biggest loser with 30 seats only, 19 seats fewer than in the 2015 election.
In terms of votes garnered, the Social Democrats ranked first with 17.7 percent, the Finns came second narrowly with 17.5 percent, the conservatives 17 percent, and the centrists 13.8 percent.
The Green Party came fifth with 11.5 percent of votes, and the Left Alliance, 8.2 percent.
Both the Green Party and the Left Alliance have increased their seats. The greens were predicted to have 21 seats, an increase by six, and the Left Alliance, 15 seats, up by three.
The prognosis gave around 22:45 Helsinki time was based on 91.2 percent of the total ballots counted.
Commenting on the prognosis, Social Democratic Party Chairman Antti Rinne said the final result must be awaited.
Conservative chairman Petteri Orpo did not rule out cooperation with the winning Social Democrats. Centrist leader Juha Sipila said his party would remain open in whether to join the government and the decision would depend on the negotiation.
The next Finnish government is predicted to be formed on the basis of Social Democrats' cooperation with either the conservatives or the centrists.
Both alternatives would be complemented with the Green Party. The inclusion of the Swedish People's Party is considered likely. The party was in the opposition in the past four years for the first time in decades.
During the election campaign, all parties expressed unwillingness to join a government with the Finns Party. However, commentators have said the inclusion of the Finns Party in the cabinet is not totally impossible.
The high level of support of the populist Finns Party in Finland is described now as reflecting the support of populist parties in continental Europe.
