Election winner Orpo is keeping all options open in Finland

After winning parliamentary elections in Finland, the Conservatives are keeping all options open. “I want to have honest talks with all parties,” National Coalition Party leader Petteri Orpo told Yle radio on Tuesday.

Coalition negotiations should begin on the basis of these discussions. The Conservatives made significant gains in Sunday’s election, replacing Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Social Democrats as the strongest party. In second place came the right-wing populist party The Finns.

Forming a majority government will be difficult. Orpo could aim for a center-right alliance with the Finns and the Center Party, which has been part of Marin’s five-party coalition so far. However, after losing, the party announced that it would go into opposition. Then only smaller parties remain as possible junior partners.

Orpo did not want to comment on his government policy. Economic growth is a priority, said the ex-minister of finance. His party has set itself the goal of saving around six billion euros over the next four years. In difficult times, it is not important to form a government as soon as possible, Orpo said. He hopes that education will be completed by midsummer, i.e. by June 24. “But it’s even more important to have a functioning government with a good program,” he said. His party unreservedly supports Finland’s accession to NATO, which was finalized on Tuesday. (aeg/sda/dpa)