Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin concedes defeat in election as right-wing National Coalition Party claims victory.
In a significant shift in power, Finland's left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin conceded defeat on Sunday to the opposition right-wing National Coalition Party (NCP), who claimed victory in a tightly contested parliamentary election. The pro-business NCP won 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.
The NCP leader Petteri Orpo vowed to "fix Finland" and its economy, promising to curb spending and stop the rise of public debt, which has reached just over 70% of GDP since Marin took office in 2019. Orpo will get the first chance at forming a coalition to obtain majority in parliament as Marin's era as prime minister was expected to end.
In a concession speech, Marin acknowledged that her party had not gained the support it needed and expressed her gratitude to her supporters. She also praised Orpo for his leadership and congratulated him on the NCP's victory.
Marin, 37, is considered one of the world's youngest prime ministers when she took office in 2019. Despite facing criticism at home, particularly regarding her partying and government spending, Marin remains a popular figure among many Finns, particularly young moderates.
The Finns Party's main goal is to reduce "harmful" immigration from developing countries outside the European Union and implement austerity policies to curb deficit spending, a stance it shares with the NCP. The NCP has promised to address Finland's economic challenges and promote national security, key issues that resonated with voters in this election.
Marin's government had been marked by controversy over public spending, including lavish pensions and education initiatives seen as too expensive by conservatives. Her decision to party during a recent parliamentary recess sparked widespread criticism.
The outcome of the election marks a significant shift in Finland's politics, as Marin's left-wing government faces its toughest challenge yet. The NCP's victory could have implications for Finland's relationship with Russia and its position within NATO.
In a significant shift in power, Finland's left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin conceded defeat on Sunday to the opposition right-wing National Coalition Party (NCP), who claimed victory in a tightly contested parliamentary election. The pro-business NCP won 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.
The NCP leader Petteri Orpo vowed to "fix Finland" and its economy, promising to curb spending and stop the rise of public debt, which has reached just over 70% of GDP since Marin took office in 2019. Orpo will get the first chance at forming a coalition to obtain majority in parliament as Marin's era as prime minister was expected to end.
In a concession speech, Marin acknowledged that her party had not gained the support it needed and expressed her gratitude to her supporters. She also praised Orpo for his leadership and congratulated him on the NCP's victory.
Marin, 37, is considered one of the world's youngest prime ministers when she took office in 2019. Despite facing criticism at home, particularly regarding her partying and government spending, Marin remains a popular figure among many Finns, particularly young moderates.
The Finns Party's main goal is to reduce "harmful" immigration from developing countries outside the European Union and implement austerity policies to curb deficit spending, a stance it shares with the NCP. The NCP has promised to address Finland's economic challenges and promote national security, key issues that resonated with voters in this election.
Marin's government had been marked by controversy over public spending, including lavish pensions and education initiatives seen as too expensive by conservatives. Her decision to party during a recent parliamentary recess sparked widespread criticism.
The outcome of the election marks a significant shift in Finland's politics, as Marin's left-wing government faces its toughest challenge yet. The NCP's victory could have implications for Finland's relationship with Russia and its position within NATO.