HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's anti-euro True Finns party made big gains in a parliamentary election on Sunday, threatening the pro-European government and raising the risk of disruption to an EU bailout of Portugal.
A count of 38 percent of ballots showed the centre-right National Coalition, the second largest party in the outgoing coalition and an EU supporter, winning 20.1 percent of votes.
The main opposition party, the Social Democrats, were on 19.5 percent of the vote, but the True Finns were set to win 18.7 percent of the vote and come third, the results showed.
KEY POINTS:
* Early results point to the National Coalition taking the lead in forming a new coalition, though it will need other parties and the process can take weeks.
* Finland's parliament, unlike others in the euro zone, has the right to vote on European Union requests for bailout funds, meaning it could hold up plans to shore up Portugal.
COMMENTARY:
PAAVO VAYRYNEN, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT,
CENTRE PARTY
"Trust among the voters has been badly shaken."
"The euro area debt crisis issue has been difficult for us."
"We'll have to try to get into government and have an influence. If that doesn't work, we'll be in opposition."
RISTO UIMONEN, POLITICAL COLUMNIST *
"It seems on the basis of the advance votes that the True Finns are making the anticipated election victory. In Finnish history, with the exception of 1945, there has not been such a big election victory."
PRIME MINISTER MARI KIVINIEMI, CENTRE PARTY *
"It is clear that the leader of the biggest party will start the government formation talks, but of course I will remain party leader."
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY SECRETARY MIKAEL JUNGER *
"The True Finns' big popularity mixes up the traditional patterns."
BEN ZYSKOWICZ, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, NATIONAL COALITION *
"The National Coalition is getting a historic election result."
* Comments appeared on Finnish broadcaster YLE.