Categories: World

Why Sanna Marin was defeated in the Finnish elections

In 2019, at the age of 34, she became known as the youngest head of government. It was very popular at home and abroad. However, it was not enough for re-election on Sunday. How is that possible?

The mutual race

The survey results showed beforehand that the race would be extremely close on Sunday: three sides were almost tied. The conservative National Coalition Party led only marginally ahead of the right-wing populist party De Finnen and the social democrats of Sanna Marin. In the end, the Conservatives came out on top with 20.8 percent, ahead of the Finns with 20.1 percent and the Marin Social Democrats with 19.9 percent. The turnout was 71.9 percent, about the level of the previous parliamentary elections in 2019.

In the last election in 2019, the three parties were only less than a percentage point apart. Then the social democrats managed to win for themselves, this year they got the short end of the stick.

This despite the fact that they received more votes than in 2019 and thus gained three new seats in parliament. A fact that Sanna Marin was happy with despite the defeat. The problem: the other two parties did the same – and even a little better.

The National Coalition Party, led by former finance minister Petteri Orpo, won a narrow election with 48 of 200 seats. The Finns won 46 seats, the Social Democrats 43.

Late Sunday night, Marin admitted her electoral defeat:

"Congratulations to the election winner, congratulations to the National Coalition, congratulations to the Finn Party. Democracy has spoken."

Government debt more problematic than dance videos

Actually, Sanna Marin is popular with the Finns. She led the country not only through the Corona crisis, but also to NATO membership in view of the war in Ukraine. A decision that all parties support. However, the young prime minister was not spared controversy.

Last August, a private video leaked to the public showing Sanna Marin dancing and partying, making international waves. In her own country, a discussion flared up whether she was not too doubtful for her position, and critics accused her of not taking her job seriously. After speculating whether drugs were involved at the party, Marin took a drug test. This turned out negative. Internationally she received a lot of encouragement and only further confirmed her image of the cool head of government. A short time later, things calmed down in their own country, so that this incident hardly played a role in the election defeat.

Much more serious was probably the fact that the national debt had risen sharply under Marin's rule. Even though the coronavirus pandemic has taken its toll, much of the new spending and budget deficit is attributable to Sanna Marin, writes the Swedish economist and journalist Fredrik Erixon for the British magazine The Spectator. Her government - a coalition of smaller centre-left parties - has increased government spending and introduced a lot of bureaucracy into business.

The president of the victorious National Coalition Party, Petteri Orpo, accused her of economic mismanagement and wants to take new measures. During his election campaign, he advocated both austerity measures and tax cuts. Meanwhile, Marin had no intention of turning away from her previous business. This may have increased voters' confidence in the former finance minister and his new plans.

Rarely a second term

While Erixon continues to write for the "Spectator", it is almost common practice in Finland for the Prime Minister not to survive more than one term in office:

"As day turns to night and spring follows winter, the rhythm of elections in Finland is that the largest opposition party wins - depending on which of them was outside the last governing coalition."

Since 1917, only two prime ministers have served two terms. On the one hand the Social Democrat Paavo Lipponen between 1995 and 2003, on the other hand Matti Vanhanen of the Finnish Center Party between 2003 and 2010.

Moreover, according to Erixon, all major Finnish parties are centrist and pragmatic, the difference between left and right is small. He therefore does not believe that the Finnish electorate has made an ideological choice. After the turbulent years at Sanna Marin, she probably only wished for more peace in the board.

What now

To run the country, Orpo must vote according to Finland's proportional representation more than 100 seats in the 200-seat parliament. That should be a challenge. He can form a right-wing coalition with the nationalist Finnish party led by Riikka Purra or form a coalition with Marin's social democrats. To get more than 100 seats, he will also have to appeal to at least one of the medium-sized and smaller parties.

After his election victory, the 53-year-old was open:

“I think the Finnish people want change. They want change and I will start negotiations now - open negotiations with all parties."

The question now arises whether the Coalition Party can find common ground with the Finn Party, writes the Helsinki Times. During the election campaign, the Finns campaigned for drastic restrictions on immigration from outside the EU and postponement of climate action. The party's long-term goal should also be a departure from the EU. Orpo's party, on the other hand, is in favor of more immigration of migrant workers for economic reasons and has already announced that it does not want to compromise on climate goals.

A coalition with the Social Democrats is also likely to be difficult due to widely differing views on economic policy.

It will therefore probably take several weeks or even months before the new Finnish government is finally installed. (Sat)

Soource :Watson

Share
Published by
Amelia

Recent Posts

Terror suspect Chechen ‘hanged himself’ in Russian custody Egyptian President al-Sisi has been sworn in for a third term

On the same day of the terrorist attack on the Krokus City Hall in Moscow,…

1 year ago

Locals demand tourist tax for Tenerife: “Like a cancer consuming the island”

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/4Residents of Tenerife have had enough of noisy and dirty tourists.It's too loud, the…

1 year ago

Agreement reached: this is how much Tuchel will receive for his departure from Bayern

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/7Packing his things in Munich in the summer: Thomas Tuchel.After just over a year,…

1 year ago

Worst earthquake in 25 years in Taiwan +++ Number of deaths increased Is Russia running out of tanks? Now ‘Chinese coffins’ are used

At least seven people have been killed and 57 injured in severe earthquakes in the…

1 year ago

Now the moon should also have its own time (and its own clocks). These 11 photos and videos show just how intense the Taiwan earthquake was

The American space agency NASA would establish a uniform lunar time on behalf of the…

1 year ago

This is how the Swiss experienced the earthquake in Taiwan: “I saw a crack in the wall”

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/8Bode Obwegeser was surprised by the earthquake while he was sleeping. “It was a…

1 year ago