The left is rising, and the far right is reeling. Will I finally see the Finland I dreamed of? | Mike Watson
R.The Finnish says that “spring comes in swing” – when the winter wings the road to spring, and the green buds meet the final stations of snow, often in April. Also in Finnish policy, some hope began to appear after the long dark winter.
In the municipal, regional and municipal elections held throughout the country last week, the right -wing popular parties were greatly defeated, while parties on the left gained the ground. In particular, the far -right Finnish Party witnessed the collapse of the vote, from 20 % in general elections From 2023 To 7.6 % now. This leaves the coalition government, which is part of its severe weakening and the Social Democratic Party in the center (SDP) with the largest voting share in the country (23 %). When the leader of the Finnish Party, Rika Bora, admitted to defeat on the night of the results, she complained about that Punainen AaltoARed waveThe country was swept.
The difference between now until the end of last year is like day and night. At that time, I started wondering Why did you move to Finland?. It was dark and cold, and “The most right -wing government“The country that I witnessed at all was working hard to reduce public spending and immigration. I felt as if the reality of my adopted home could not be beyond the accounts described by the rose that I often read in the media, which I talked about.”The happiest nation on the groundA luxury paradise is the envy of progressive people throughout the West.
You may ask what has changed since the winter. In short, Anti Lindtman’s SDP, along with the left coalition in Minja Koskela, and Maria Ohisalo, as if these elections were a referendum on austerity measures in the ruling coalition. “The first issue is health and social care,” Koskilla told me during her campaign. “People are concerned about the services that are away from them, about access and quality of these services.” Indeed, the workers were qualified A threat to leave The country is facing the tightening of the harsh government of the visa rules. With a welfare cut and High cost of livingMaybe it is no wonder that there is a violent reaction from the voters.
A direct and open account of the effects of poverty has described these elections and the approach of some left candidates. Take the pain of Tofa, who won the council’s seat after pledged free transportation and promotion of arts and health care for transgender people in Helsinki. It is known to many voters as “Pikakahvimememement”, an Instagram account with 40,000 followers that publish themes wandering in poverty, women’s rights and public spending. In an interview with Helsinki newspaper Kansan UutisetTuva said: “We, the poor, need support and an easier daily life so that we can improve our situation. This reduces exclusion and prevents the escalation of problems.”
Of course, the first days are still: some winning in the local elections are not progressing in the future, and the next general elections may be late in 2027. It seems that the improper of the coalition government may be carried by its novice partner, the Finnish Party; The Pioneer Party, the National Party of Petteri OPO, received 0.5 % in general. The speech may be similar to the cultural wars in the Finnish Party on its way out, but the party itself will restore its ranks, and its voters tend to have greater numbers for the public elections. What kind of country may become Finland? It is difficult to say, given that Lindamman He referred to his openness To form alliances with the concentrated right. Perhaps we are waiting for something closer to Starmerism than the complete left tendency.
One place I find reassurance in the storing that I see in the Finns. the The last European Union version Emergency guidance for its citizens in the event of war causes panic. However, as I remember when Similar advice It was published here in the past fall, the Finns did not hit the eyelid. I think it comes from decades of their willingness to conflict with the Russians. I noticed that most Finnish cities tend to have parking lots that were clearly designed Double as shelters of bombs.
However, shortly after moving to Finland In 2018, I noticed that late at night, after several drinks, Finns often reduce their voices to silence and talk about “the threat from Putin”. I first thought that this is the product of generations shock, given the history of Finland in the invasion of Russia. It did not happen to me after that that the Finnish evaluation of the threat was accurate and that Europe (definitely Ukraine) was actually in danger from its neighbor.
Unlike some other leaders throughout Europe, who expressed their support or Even admiration For Vladimir Putin, even the extreme right -wing Finland parties Rush From Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. This, after all, is a country that recognizes the dangers of tyranny leaders. Perhaps, then, Finland has this to teach the rest of the world: that luxury discounts and public spending are popular so that voters hit their pockets; These real progressive policies appeal to the voters who are tired of austerity; And that there is value in standing to the tyrants.
Perhaps if social democrats are based on these lessons, we will finally see that the spring begins to go out Europe. But at the present time, I dare believe that I see the first buds to recover in this country, I have grown for respect.
