Helsinki: The True Finns may back down from threats to block Portugal’s bailout as the party tries to negotiate its way into Finland’s next coalition government.

Huge gains for a nationalist eurosceptic party in Finland’s general election have posed a challenge to EU plans to rescue Portugal and other debt-ridden economies.

Finnish voters dealt a blow to Europe’s plans to rescue Portugal and other debt-ridden economies, ousting the pro-bailout government and giving a major boost to a Eurosceptic nationalist party.

A nationalist party that rejects bail-outs for Portugal and other debt-ridden eurozone members is expected to make strong gains in Finland's election today but remains unlikely to join the next government, according to a series of recent polls.