Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin has conceded defeat in the country's parliamentary election, marking an end to her era as premier. The opposition right-wing National Coalition Party (NCP) claimed victory, winning 48 of the 200 seats in parliament, narrowly ahead of the nationalist Finns Party with 46 seats and Marin's Social Democrats on 43 seats.
Marin, 37, who was considered a millennial role model for progressive leaders globally, has faced criticism at home for her partying and government spending. The NCP, led by Petteri Orpo, promised to curb spending and stop the rise of public debt, which has reached over 70% of GDP since Marin took office in 2019.
Orpo hailed the NCP's victory as a "biggest mandate," vowing to "fix Finland" and its economy. He will now have the first chance to form a coalition to obtain a majority in parliament. Marin conceded defeat, saying her party had gained support and more seats but did not finish first. However, she warned that her Social Democrats may govern with the NCP but would not go into government with the Finns Party.
The Finns Party's main goal is to reduce immigration from developing countries outside the European Union and implement austerity policies to curb deficit spending. Marin had pushed for NATO membership in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a process that is now almost complete, with Helsinki expected to join within days after all Western defense alliance members approved the accession.
Marin's tenure was marked by her efforts to promote Finland as a hub for technology and innovation, while also addressing issues such as immigration and climate change. Despite facing challenges at home, she remained popular among many Finns, particularly young moderates. However, her government's spending policies and partying scandal had antagonized some conservatives, who saw them as too lavish and excessive.
Marin, 37, who was considered a millennial role model for progressive leaders globally, has faced criticism at home for her partying and government spending. The NCP, led by Petteri Orpo, promised to curb spending and stop the rise of public debt, which has reached over 70% of GDP since Marin took office in 2019.
Orpo hailed the NCP's victory as a "biggest mandate," vowing to "fix Finland" and its economy. He will now have the first chance to form a coalition to obtain a majority in parliament. Marin conceded defeat, saying her party had gained support and more seats but did not finish first. However, she warned that her Social Democrats may govern with the NCP but would not go into government with the Finns Party.
The Finns Party's main goal is to reduce immigration from developing countries outside the European Union and implement austerity policies to curb deficit spending. Marin had pushed for NATO membership in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a process that is now almost complete, with Helsinki expected to join within days after all Western defense alliance members approved the accession.
Marin's tenure was marked by her efforts to promote Finland as a hub for technology and innovation, while also addressing issues such as immigration and climate change. Despite facing challenges at home, she remained popular among many Finns, particularly young moderates. However, her government's spending policies and partying scandal had antagonized some conservatives, who saw them as too lavish and excessive.
I mean, not surprised really... Finland's been a mess for years, just like the rest of Europe 
. Marin was always going to get taken down by the NCP... they're like the ultimate opposition party, you know? All about "curing" the country and making it great again 
. Like they didn't all live in mansions like Orpo and his crew? 
Anyway, gotta give credit where credit is due, Finland's economy was already a hot mess before Marin took over... 70% of GDP debt? That's just wild 
.
It's like they're trying to recreate some sort of Scandinavian version of the Wild West... not cool 
. She paved the way for other leaders to follow in her footsteps, even if it's just to criticize her 
. Bring on the new era of Finnish politics... or whatever 
.
... I mean, Petteri Orpo's promises to curb spending seem legit, but on the other hand, isn't Finland's public debt a major issue? 
Like, shouldn't we be trying to reduce it instead of just saying we will 
. Maybe Orpo will surprise everyone and do something good for Finland? 
Or maybe not 
. Can't make up my mind lol 
. On the other hand, I don't want Marin's party to go into government with the NCP, 'cause that just feels so... uncool 
? Or maybe he will be super good and fix Finland 
? Ugh, I'm all confused now 
. She was the face of hope for so many young people looking for change, and now it feels like all that progress has been taken away 
.
. She was so passionate about climate change and innovation, and now it feels like all that momentum has been lost 
.
. Finland deserves better than this right-wing drama 
. I'm not surprised he's all about curbing spending and reducing debt, that's what we hear from our own politicians back home too 
, so I wonder if Orpo really knows how to keep the good momentum going 
.
. I'm curious to see how Orpo will balance his party's hardline stance with the need for cooperation and diplomacy 
.
. That's something our own politicians could learn from – being true to your core values even when it's not the most popular opinion 
.
. And I gotta give it to Marin for pushing through NATO membership - that's a big deal for Finland's security 
. Petteri Orpo's promise to "fix Finland" and curb public debt sounds kinda appealing, but we'll see how he does in practice 
but it looks like the voters were more worried about getting their finances in check 
.
hope he does something good for the economy tho 
wish her all the best though 
considering the rising income gap and climate change concerns, it seems like a no-brainer to implement this policy nationwide 
. And what about those austerity policies from the Finns Party? Will they affect the tech and innovation hub Finland has been trying to create? 
. I mean, who needs a PM who can't even keep her personal life private? Her government's spending was out of control, and now she's paying the price 
. The Finns Party, on the other hand, has given Finland a clear message: it wants to take control of its economy and borders 
.
showing the growth in public debt since 2019... it's not looking good 
. Petteri Orpo's win could be a sign that Finland needs more fiscal responsibility 
. I also wonder how the NCP will balance its promises with the need to form a coalition and pass legislation 
. I'd love to see some diagrams illustrating the pros and cons of different policies