Most Finnish MPs, including 14 ministers out of 19, are preparing to run in next spring’s municipal elections.
Central Party Secretary Riikka Pirkkalainen told Yle that the candidacy of MPs and ministers could play a key role in local elections.
"They often produce a significant number of votes because they have proven to be credible candidates in national elections and voters know their names," Pirkkalainen said.
As for how politicians can divide their time between national and local responsibilities, Pirkkalainen said it was possible and it is largely due to the planning of schedules.
"Expertise in municipal policy is invaluable in the work of a Member of Parliament. For example, the service legislation passed by Parliament becomes true in the daily life of municipalities," Pirkkalainen explained.
In Tampere, the Prime Minister
The STT news agency asked members of the Finnish parliament about their local election plans and found that well over half of the members of parliament – including many government ministers – are looking for elections to the city and municipal council on the third Sunday in April next year.
The ministers of the Central Party, the chairman of the party and the Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko intends to stand in the municipality of Oripää in southwestern Finland as Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen seeks elections from Tuusula, Minister of Finance Matti Vanhanen In Nurmijärvi, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä In Pertunmaa.
Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä has not yet announced his candidacy.
The BTI also noted that several Social Democratic Party (SDP) ministers have local election campaigns, including the Prime Minister Sanna Marin in his hometown of Tampere.
In addition to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Family and Social Affairs Krista Kiuru standing in Pori, Tuula Haatainen and Timo Harakka operates in Helsinki, Sirpa Paatero is a candidate in Kotka and the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari seeks re-election to Lahti City Council.
Party’s European Minister and Corporate Governance Tytti Tuppurainen has not yet revealed whether he intends to reappoint to the Oulu City Council.
Left Alliance, Party Chairman and Minister of Education Li Andersson is a candidate in Turku as Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen plans to run in Riihimäki.
Minister of Justice of the Swedish People’s Party Anna-Maja Henriksson is again a candidate on the west coast in the town of Jakobstad (Finnish: Jakobstad), where he has worked since 1997. Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist as a candidate in Raseborg (Raseborg).
None of the three Green Party ministers wanted to reveal their candidacy plans to BTI.
Party chairman and interior minister Maria Ohisalo was elected to the Helsinki City Council in the last election in 2017, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto has also previously served as a member of the Council. Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Krista Mikkonen has sat in Joensuu City Council, but did not confirm his candidacy for next year.
Source: The Nordic Page
