Finland’s youngest PM faces challenge from far-right in Sunday’s polls

Kathmandu: Finland is all set to hold legislative elections on Sunday which is seen as a tight race between far-right populists, conservatives and current prime minister’s Social Democratic Party.

In Sunday’s election, around 25 candidates from 22 parties are contesting for the 200 seats in Finland’s parliament. But opinion polls indicate that there will be a neck-to-neck fight between Social Democratic Party, the center-right National Coalition Party and the right-wing populist The Finns Party.

It is also highly likely that the latest election may take a dramatic turn to the right because far-right, conservative and anti-immigration parties have put all their efforts to unseat the Social Democratic PM Sanna Marin. If they succeed in this bid to oust Marin, Finland will become the latest European countries to see the victory of far-right, nationalist and conservatives.

The latest surveys also suggest that Social Democratic Party’s win and Marin’s bid for second term is full of challenges. A poll survey published on Sunday by public broadcaster Yle showed that the center-right National Coalition holds a thin lead with 19.8 percent while nationalistic Finns Party in second place at 19.5 percent.

Whereas Marin’s Social Democratic party was in the third place with 18.7 percent approval.

Now aged 37, Marin became the world’s youngest prime minister four years ago, her party leading a center-left coalition government with the centrist Center Party, the the Green League, the Left Alliance and the Swedish People’s Party in Finland. Since her rise to power, she has been viewed on the world stage as a trailblazer, setting an example for progressive leaders across the globe. Her youth and gender have made her stand out from her predecessors, who for the most part have been middle-aged men.

Coined by many as ‘Rock star PM’, Marin is still popular at home as well as abroad, and credited for wisely navigating Covid-19 pandemic and the NATO membership. Vocal support for Ukraine last year has also earned her global attention. But a video that emerged last summer showing her as singing, dancing and drinking at a party has put her on the spot. Besides, Some Finns are not happy with because of rising living costs and public debt.

Apart from economy, the other issues around the election campaigns are climate change, education, social benefits and employment.

Marin has emphasized the need for economic growth and robust employment.

‘Above all, we must seek economic growth and stronger employment,’ she said in a recent interview with Finnish public broadcaster YLE, ‘If we don’t succeed in these two things, we won’t be able to reduce our indebtedness, and we won’t be able to balance our economy.’

In Marin Party’s comes first with the largest seats in the parliament, she will be in a position to form the new government. But she will have to negotiate hard for forming new government as the Center Party has already made it clear that it is against the current composition of the government.