What to know about Sanna Marin’s election losses, Finland’s future with NATO – The Washington Post
The pivotal election comes at a time when Finland is on the world stage, as the country is about to join NATO and its neighbor, Russia, is invading Ukraine. Here’s what you need to know about the loss of Marin, his successor, and what it means for Finland’s place in Europe.
When Marin congratulated the winners of the elections on Sunday, he noted that his stadium was not a complete loss to the party, which won more votes and more seats than in the last elections four years ago. “It’s a really good performance, even though I didn’t finish first today,” he said. “Democracy has spoken, the Finnish people have voted and the celebration of democracy is always a wonderful thing.”
Marin became the world’s youngest sitting national leader when she was elected at age 34 in 2019, with many hailing her as a beacon of hope in a world largely ruled by seniors. Marin has won praise at home and abroad for his support of Ukraine during the Russian invasion, handling the coronavirus pandemic and leading the country’s pivot to NATO.
But she faced criticism on the economic front, with critics blaming her for Finland’s rising public debt and rising inflation.
Sexism and ageism have also made her a target, analysts say. In August, politicians cut off Marin’s opponents after they surfaced in party videos amid the country’s economic crisis. Others blasted his behavior as unprofessional, while others demanded a drug test, which he refused. However, many of his supporters put up dances out of solidarity.
Who is Marin’s successor?
National Coalition leader Petteri Orpo is expected to become the country’s prime minister. In Finland, the winning party traditionally forms a coalition to win the majority. In this case, Orpo can lean to the right and work with the Finnish Party, or to the left of the center.
Orpo, 53; he called the elections resulted in “a great victory” and he told his party that he “conceived to start the state”. But no firm has been notified to form a new government, Teivo Teivainen, professor of world politics at the University of Helsinki, noted that politicians will work “as long as it takes” to be in place. it is difficult to say “what kind of coalition government we will get.”
Teivainen said Orpo’s public image is “grey” in stark contrast to Marin, suggesting some voters consider him a more “serious” person to solve the nation’s economic woes.
Teivainen noted that after four years Marin still remained popular in the country – a rarity in Finnish politics. “It was more of a business than a burden,” he said.
Orpo, who served as Finland’s finance minister from 2016 to 2019, prioritized the Finnish economy as the nation grapples with inflation and the cost of living crisis. “We want to put the economy of Finland in order,” its website he obliged.
The popular party won big. How?
The Finnish Party, which has taken a hard line on immigration and wants Finland to eventually leave the European Union, came second in the Lord’s election. Orpo said his side was open to working with the Finns The Associated Press reported.
Teivainen said that the success of the Finnish party, led by Riikka Purra, was not surprising. The party has been strong in the past decade and in recent years has gained popularity among younger voters especially through the use of TikTok. pure he said Sunday’s win was the party’s best election result ever.
“Among young people, the party has the largest number of supporters,” Teivainen said. He adds that while many younger people don’t necessarily agree with the party’s policies on migration and gender, many believe it produces “cool TikTok videos.”
What happened to Finland, NATO and Ukraine?
Sunday’s election comes as Finland edges closer to joining NATO, a move that will mark the end of decades for the country. the tradition of military neutrality.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that Finland will officially join the security partnership on Tuesday. If it becomes a member, Finland will reform European security assistance, doubling NATO’s land border with Russia and bringing full force to Europe’s far north.
The new government is unlikely to change that, Teivainen said.
On Sunday, Orpo was quick to assert that Finland would not reduce its support for Ukraine under its leadership.
“First to Ukraine: we stand with you, with you” Orpo he told the Associated Press the result of his party’s victory. We cannot accept “this terrible war”. And we will do everything we need to help Ukraine, the people of Ukraine, because they are fighting for us. This is clear.’
Orpo also had a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Get out of Ukraine because you will lose.”
Emily Rauhala, Annabelle Timsit and Kareem Fahim contributed to this report.
