HELSINKI, April 2 (Reuters) - Finland's opposition right-wing National Coalition Party (NCP) held a narrow lead in Sunday's parliamentary election, with 20.8% support from advance ballots, but the early tally is often skewed and the outcome remained a toss-up as counting continued.
The Social Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sanna Marin was second with 20.7% support, followed by the nationalist Finns Party at 18.6%, with 40.1% of the votes counted, justice ministry data showed.
Marin, 37, is considered by fans around the world as a millennial role model for progressive new leaders, but at home she has faced criticism for her partying and her government's public spending.
If the NCP lead stands, its chair Petteri Orpo will get the first chance at forming a coalition to obtain a majority in parliament and Marin's era as prime minister would likely come to an end.
The NCP has led in polls for almost two years although its lead melted away in recent months. It has promised to curb spending and stop the rise of public debt, which has reached just over 70% of GDP since Marin took office in 2019.
Orpo accused Marin of eroding Finland's economic resilience at a time when Europe's energy crisis, driven by Russia's war in Ukraine, has hit the country hard and the cost of living has increased.
After seeing the early results, Marin said she was confident that the lead could still shift in her party's favour.
"I have a feeling that we will get a big share of the election-day votes," Marin told reporters.
The election is likely to be followed by lengthy coalition talks, although whichever party wins on Sunday will have the first attempt at forming a government.
Orpo has said he will negotiate with all groups to obtain a majority in parliament, while Marin has said her Social Democrats may govern with the NCP but will not go into government with the Finns Party.
Marin called the Finns Party "openly racist" during a debate in January - an accusation the nationalist group rejected
The Finns Party's main goal is to reduce what leader Riikka Purra has called "harmful" immigration from developing countries outside the European Union. It also calls for austerity policies to curb deficit spending, a stance it shares with the NCP.
