The social democratic victory in the elections expected in Finland

In Finland have taken place on Sunday the parliamentary elections. According to surveys, the social Democrats could come for the first time after 16 years again to the government. The anti-immigration right-wing populist party "The Finns" could come to around 16 percent, the second strongest force.

The polling stations closed at 19 o'clock Swiss time (20 hrs local time). A preliminary result was expected for 21.45 PM. At 19.30, the SDP was based on a count of 37 per cent of the votes cast at around 19 percent, followed by the conservative National coalition (Kok), with 17.2 percent of the votes. "The Finns" came up with 15.1 per cent on the provisional third place. The Greens stood at 11.4 percent, and could thus, like the social Democrats, with the course expected to recover in comparison to the last parliamentary election in 2015.

Difficult government formation

some 1.5 million Finns, about a third of the electorate, had voted in the past few days already via early voting. The choice is influenced by the dissatisfaction of many citizens with the austerity policies of the current centre-right government. These had been promised prior to the election in 2015, to bring the country's economy through deep spending cuts again on a growth course. However, cuts in Finland's highly regarded education system, as well as stricter rules for obtaining unemployment help generate broad public resistance. Voter Katja Katajamaki said after voting in Helsinki, the government had gone with a policy of austerity "is somehow too far".

Despite the widespread discontent, the opposition social Democrats in the polls have a margin of about two percentage points ahead of the conservative National coalition (Kok) and "The Finns". It is expected that no party receives more than 20 percent of the vote, which is likely to complicate the formation of a government.

Alleged security risk

In the election campaign, had "concentrated The Finns" of the ultra-right politician Jussi Halla-aho on an alleged, of immigrants outgoing security risk. The other major parties showed before the election, large back attitude to a coalition with the right-wing populists.

"The Finns" had become in the election of 2011, surprisingly, it is the third strongest force. According to a further success in the election in 2015, the party of the center-right government of the centre party, and Kok joined and saw in the government's responsibility to forced political concessions.

Halla-aho was in 2017, party leader of the Finns party and caused a shift to the right. Government chief Juha Sipilä of the centre party to quit the government Alliance. A majority of Finns-group, split off and declared their willingness to remain in the government.

In March Sipiläs government stepped back then, because the coalition could not on a major package of reforms in the Social and health area. At the request of President Sauli Niinistö and the government, however, remains until the appointment of a successor government in office. (anf/sda)

Created: 14.04.2019, 19:32 PM