Helsinki, April 2 (BNA): Finns cast their ballots in a disputed parliamentary election Sunday that could cost left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin power amid voters’ concerns about the future of generous public services at a time of economic slowdown.
With no party seen as having a decisive lead, the election is likely to be followed by drawn-out coalition talks, although whichever party wins will be the first attempt to form a government.
Fans around the world view Marin, 37, as a millennial role model for progressive neo-leaders and remains popular among many Finns, particularly young moderates, but has antagonized some conservatives with generous spending. on pensions and education, which they deem irresponsible. According to Reuters.
“The right is offering an alternative that makes life miserable for all of us, cuts off services, and cuts off livelihoods for the poor,” Marin told her supporters on Saturday. “We have a chance to choose a better alternative.”
Polls show the Social Democrats, the largest party in the outgoing coalition government, in tight conflict with the right-wing National Coalition Party and the nationalist Finns’ Party, with the three seen winning around 18.7–19.8% of the vote.
The National Coalition has been leading in the polls for nearly two years, though its lead has melted in recent months. She promised to reduce spending and halt the rise in public debt, which has reached just over 70% of gross domestic product since Marin took office in 2019.
“Carrying more debt cannot continue for the next 30 years,” said Marty Haikyu, 73, a history professor. “It’s been going on for 30 years – more debt, debt, debt – and good services, fine, but on borrowed money.”
The Finnish party also advocates austerity, but its main goal is to curb what its leader Rikka Pura calls “harmful” immigration from developing countries outside the European Union.
Voting begins at 9 am (06:00 GMT) and ends at 8 pm, with partial results from early voting to be published shortly thereafter.
Justice Department data showed that about 1.7 million, or 40.5%, of eligible voters actually cast ballots during the week-long early voting period that ended Tuesday.
Marin’s Social Democrats believe that economic growth will help rein in rising public debt and that if the coffers need balancing, they’d rather consider tax increases than spending cuts.
However, this growth is not imminent. The economy in Finland, a country of 5.5 million people, weathered the pandemic better than in most European countries, but growth slowed to 1.9% last year and the country is expected to descend into a mild recession this year, while inflation peaked at 9.1. %. in December.
That process is now almost complete, and Helsinki is expected to join within days after all 30 members of the Western Defense Alliance agree to join.
HF