Finnish political news thread

[joluoto]

Because why not a thread about what's going on in Finland?

Wait, is anything going on in Finland? I thought the only thing remarkable about Finland was that Joulupukki (Santa Claus) is sober once a year?

Well right now PM Sanna Marin (SDP) is facing something of a crisis, at least according to the media.

Media reports PM Marin missed Covid exposure messages while out socialising​

This news has been something of a slow burn. During the weekend the PM was out bar-hopping on her free time Saturday evening. Nothing especially wrong there. But the issue is that earlier the Cabinet had had a meeting, and after the meeting Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (Green) was during routine Covid test tested positive. (The media is convinced Haavisto got the virus during the inauguration of the new Nokia Arena in Tampere, but who knows really). So the problem is PM Marin did not have her work phone with her, so she didn't get the messages that she might have Covid before the next day (she tested, she didn't have Covid). At least that's the story, and that's probably true. And it's bad in the sense that any Cabinet member is suppose to always have their phone with them, and she didn't. Politicians has fallen for sillier things, but it's as always a question of how embarrassing it gets and how much people actually care. Marin is double vaccinated and had her Covid pass. For a normal citizen that's enough. A normal citizen wouldn't have regular Covid tests either, like the one Haavisto had (and yes, Haavisto is of course double vaccinated), but of course Sanna Marin is the head of government and thus not a normal citizen.

Another story circulating in social media is that PM Marin knew about Haavisto's positive test already during the evening, and while that would be worse, it's also most likely not true. How the heck does random people on social media know that would be my first question. And THL (the Health and Welfare Center, roughly translated) has confirmed the message was sent to all Cabinet members' work phones during the evening. So the scenario of negligence because she didn't have the phone is the most likely one. The other thing of note is that her night out was reported by the Paparazzi magazine Seiska, that stalks all kind of celebrities trying to get compromising pictures.

So will this have political consequences? As of now, who knows. Her position doesn't feel shakey yet. Neither her party: the Social Democratic Party nor the coalition partners: the Center Party, the Greens, the Left Wing Alliance and the Swedish People's Party seem to bothered with it. If there is no internal issues with this in the government nothing will happen for now. This is not like when Antti Rinne had to go when after the Post Worker Strike the Center Party was so irritated by his pro- Union stance that they let everyone know they had nothing against continuing working for a Social Democrat led government as long as it was not led by Antti Rinne, which was actually how Sanna Marin became PM in the first place. Neither is this like when Center Leader and Finance Minister Katri Kulmuni had to go because she had used state finances to finance personal coaching, which led to her resigning as Finance Minister, because the Center Party was embarrassed by the situation, and later lose the Center Party leadership to current Finance Minister Annika Saarikko. The same Annika Saarikko said in an interview yesterday that Marin's mistake is "not political", meaning the Center Party isn't going to make a big deal out of it.

Minister on PM's night out, missed Covid exposure message: "It's not political"​

The opposition was quiet about the situation at first, and allowed the media make the spectacle. Why do anything when the media makes the work for you? Now today the True Finns said they think Marin should resign. The other opposition parties Kokoomus (National Coalition party) and KD (Christian Democrats) have not said much about it yet, basically just statements that they are disappointed, and that's all. They might say more, or they are happy with the True Finns beating the drum so they can look more reasonable. Time will tell.

My thought is that it was irresponsible by the PM, and embarassing, but in the end the media made it too a larger circus than it needed to be. For now she doesn't seem to suffer from it politically.

 

[joluoto]

So in the complete circus that is "Covid Gate" it has now been revealed Sanna Marin isn't the only Cabinet member who was out socializing that evening.
https://yle.fi/news/3-12222187

Thursday's papers: Ministers ignored exposure warning​

So it seems both Mika Lintilä and Antti Kaikkonen (both Center Party) were ignoring the warning that they might have been exposed to Covid. So Lintilä was attending a football game between Finland and Latvia after having gotten and read the exposure warning, and Kaikkonen was attending a dinner that celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Center Party youth wing.

Unlike Marin, neither Lintilä nor Kaikkonen have apologized. Unlike Marin both of them knew about the exposure. But is the press demanding them to apologize? No. Are the social mediatrolls demanding them to resign? Of course not. It's nothing wrong when men does it.

 

[joluoto]

The Finnish government today convened to decide which jet fighters they'll buy to replace the old Hornets. Rumors says they went with F-35s from Lockheed Martin. Other possible companies that had made offers were SAAB, Boeing, Dassault and BAE Systems.

 

[Chagos]

The Finnish government today convened to decide which jet fighters they'll buy to replace the old Hornets. Rumors says they went with F-35s from Lockheed Martin. Other possible companies that had made offers were SAAB, Boeing, Dassault and BAE Systems.

Well, if you opt for the F-35, don't ferchrissake ever take off from the UK's latest symbol of regained imperial power.

 

[joluoto]

Well, if you opt for the F-35, don't ferchrissake ever take off from the UK's latest symbol of regained imperial power.

To me it all just sounds like billions of Euros are wasted on new toys for the army.

 

[Chagos]

To me it all just sounds like billions of Euros are wasted on new toys for the army.

Well, just don't short-sell the British Navy. When that tub appears off the China coast, Peking will really tremble.

 

[joluoto]

Since it St. Lucia day I guess I wish everyone here a happy Lucia.

St Lucia Day - Light amidst the winter gloom​

One of the few saints observed by the Nordic Lutheran tradition, though no one really cares about the saint itself. Instead youn women are crowned Lucia, and sing songs in schools, churches and elderly homes.

 

[german hick]

go on posting here - very interesting

I´m reading all that stuff. Just not commenting because I have an embarrassing lack of knowledge about Finnland

I grew up catholic, I always thought protestants have no saints e.g

 

[joluoto]

go on posting here - very interesting

I´m reading all that stuff. Just not commenting because I have an embarrassing lack of knowledge about Finnland

I grew up catholic, I always thought protestants have no saints e.g

Yeah, most people would not even know Lucia was a saint. The tradition has become so divorced from the actual saint, which is probably why it works within a Protestant tradition. It's basically how Santa Claus can work within Protestantism. Few Protestants know about St. Nikolaus.

 

[joluoto]

Seems El Presidente had some well chosen words with Mad Vlad:

Finland's Niinistö expresses "grave concern" over Ukraine in call with Putin​

He also spoke with that Joe guy, as well as the Greek PM (The Greek PM met Putin recently so he probably called to get some knowledge about what they spoke about, and what Putin said then).

 

[joluoto]

Finland tightens border rules. Travellers from Norway, Denmark and UK now has to take a Covid test before entry.

Finland to Covid-test arrivals from UK, Norway and Denmark​

I have a feeling this might just be phase 1 of harsher border rules. Another rule that will be approved today will require travellers from outside the Schengen area to have a negative Covid test no older than 48 hours upon entry into Finland.

 

[Juin]

Is Finland still next to Russia? There appears to be very little tension between the two

 

[joluoto]

Is Finland still next to Russia? There appears to be very little tension between the two

Finland has a history of being able to handle Russia somewhat. Finland is also not a NATO member, and haven't had a war with Russia since 1944, and has not endured the trauma of being forced into the Soviet sphere.

That being said being Russia's neighbor is always an uneasy experience.

 

[Ishm]

The Finnish government today convened to decide which jet fighters they'll buy to replace the old Hornets. Rumors says they went with F-35s from Lockheed Martin. Other possible companies that had made offers were SAAB, Boeing, Dassault and BAE Systems.

One of my many interesting memories of working in Finland is jumping on a domestic flight at Oulu airport and finding the pointy end of a Finnish airforce fighter jet lined up with our plane, next in line to taxi. Seems the military use the domestic airports as well.

 

[joluoto]

Bank of Finland downgrades economic outlook due to Covid​

So just like everywhere else the economy is takinga dip because Covid.

 

[Chagos]

Bank of Finland downgrades economic outlook due to Covid​

So just like everywhere else the economy is takinga dip because Covid.

Do I remember correctly that you are on Åland ?

If so, how does the pandemic effect you and others personally there?

 

[Juin]

Finland has a history of being able to handle Russia somewhat. Finland is also not a NATO member, and haven't had a war with Russia since 1944, and has not endured the trauma of being forced into the Soviet sphere.

That being said being Russia's neighbor is always an uneasy experience.

I can imagine. Russia does make its neighbours nervous. And some of them are still nervous even inside Nato. Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania are in Nato but the ogre to the east still makes them nervous.

 

[joluoto]

Do I remember correctly that you are on Åland ?

If so, how does the pandemic effect you and others personally there?

Here on the island the pandemic comes and goes. We are so few that tracking down the people needing to be in quarantine is way easier than on the mainland, so usually we get the outbreaks under control. Right now we of course have Covid here. Being an island chain we are depending on transport of people and goods to Finland and Sweden, and that has unfortunately taken a hit with the ferries being economically hit very hard. There's also alot of grumblings that the border with Sweden closes sometimes and that the restrictions makes travelling there harder (it's closer to Sweden than to the Finnish mainland). And our local government here is pissed that several times restrictions are mandated from Helsinki, and there's a feeling our autonomy is attacked.

 

[Chagos]

Here on the island the pandemic comes and goes. We are so few that tracking down the people needing to be in quarantine is way easier than on the mainland, so usually we get the outbreaks under control. Right now we of course have Covid here. Being an island chain we are depending on transport of people and goods to Finland and Sweden, and that has unfortunately taken a hit with the ferries being economically hit very hard. There's also alot of grumblings that the border with Sweden closes sometimes and that the restrictions makes travelling there harder (it's closer to Sweden than to the Finnish mainland). And our local government here is pissed that several times restrictions are mandated from Helsinki, and there's a feeling our autonomy is attacked.

Frequently traveling by air (in my business days) from Stockholm or Copenhagen to Finland (often Helsinki but frequently to Kauttua), I always saw your islands from above and thought that some time I must visit. While I never got around to doing that, certainly not in the sense of anything that could be called a visit, I was amazed when on one of those flights the plane lost height well before the expected arrival at Kauttua and then touched down at Mariehamm. Looking in puzzlement out of the window I saw about 4 people getting off and maybe 5 people walking across the airfield towards the plane and getting on.

I reckon about 15 minutes passed between touch-down and taking off again and it was the shortest intermediate airline stop I've ever experienced. It certainly wasn't scheduled in any flight plan but hooray for pragmatism.

So I've been your way and haven't really at the same time.

But yeah, I fully understand the difficult logistics, more so in the face of this goddamn disease.

Stay safe and keep well.

 

[joluoto]

Since I am waiting for more news on Covid restrictions, which should be announced at some point tomorrow (and that's most likely the big political story from Finland before Christmas) I am posting Yle article on Finnish christmas traditions.

Finnish Christmas traditions explained​

The Yulebuck, or Christmas buck tradition they talk about was Nordic, and Finland got it from the Swedes at some point when Finland was part of Sweden. But in Finnish the word for Santa Claus: joulupukki means Christmas buck, he just changed to Santa. In Swedish we talk about jultomten (in Sweden) that means something like Christmas "elf" or "gnome" (a tomte or nisse is a Nordic folklore creature that's something like a elf or gnome, and looks like a small bearded man usually with a red cap, and is associated with Christmas. It was thought every farm house had a tomte (or tonttu in Finnish) who helped with the farm as long as you left food for him, otherwise he caused chaos all over the place. Probably because the beard and red cap Santa became associated with a "tomte". In Finland Swedish speakers talk about "Julgubben", which roughly translates to "Christmas Man", though "gubbe" specifically means old man.

My family only have some of these traditions, but I have heard about all of them before. Some of them are more regional to other parts of the country, while others are more popular among Finnish speakers and not really among Swedish speakers.

A tomte:

The Yulebuck

(from Elsa Beskow's Petter och Lottas jul, a classic Swedish christmas tale)

And yes, that goat made of straws in the Swedish city of Gävle that burns down all the time comes from the same tradition.

And while Santa might have some affiliate workshop on the North Pole, everyone knows his main office is on Korvatunturi.

 

[joluoto]

New rules: Here's what Finland is doing to slow down Omicron​

New restrictions. The new restrictions on bars and restaurants will hurt many. I have a friend that has been furloughed or laid of a dozen of times this year because he is a barkeep. Covid passes doesn't seem to be as effective, and thus bars and restaurants that previously were allowed to operate as usual as long as they used the Covid pass checks, now won't be able to anymore. Many will probably just close for a few weeks, since that might be cheaper.

 

[joluoto]

Poll for the poll Gods!

National Coalition Party tops Yle's regional election poll​

The polls might be accurate if people were actually planning to go vote. Since people really aren't I don't trust this poll at all. It's be the first election for the "welfare regions", and most people wonder what they are, why they exist and why they should care. Really low turnout is a given.

The poll

Since Helsinki is not part of the new Regional system, Helsinki is not polled, and thus the Center Party overperforms and the Greens underperforms. But I really wouldn't trust this to reflect the results very accurately, since it will depend on which voters will actually bother voting.

 

[Juin]

Poll for the poll Gods!

National Coalition Party tops Yle's regional election poll​

The polls might be accurate if people were actually planning to go vote. Since people really aren't I don't trust this poll at all. It's be the first election for the "welfare regions", and most people wonder what they are, why they exist and why they should care. Really low turnout is a given.

The poll

Since Helsinki is not part of the new Regional system, Helsinki is not polled, and thus the Center Party overperforms and the Greens underperforms. But I really wouldn't trust this to reflect the results very accurately, since it will depend on which voters will actually bother voting.

I definitely have much to learn about Finland. What are these "welfare regions" you talk about? Thanks for your patience in advance. I may have more questions on the Constitution

 

[joluoto]

I definitely have much to learn about Finland. What are these "welfare regions" you talk about? Thanks for your patience in advance. I may have more questions on the Constitution

Well it's part of one of the long burns of Finnish politics, i.e. healtchare reform. Has been attempted by several governments in different directions, until this one succeeded. Since the Center Party is in the government they were able to push for regionalization, i.e. giving healthcare responsibility to a new regional layer instead of either the municipalities (that often can't really afford it) or the State, which for the Center Party is just "bossing around by the snobs in Helsinki". So they got their regions as a part of the reform package, and now there is supposed to be elections, and no one really cares.

 

[Juin]

Well it's part of one of the long burns of Finnish politics, i.e. healtchare reform. Has been attempted by several governments in different directions, until this one succeeded. Since the Center Party is in the government they were able to push for regionalization, i.e. giving healthcare responsibility to a new regional layer instead of either the municipalities (that often can't really afford it) or the State, which for the Center Party is just "bossing around by the snobs in Helsinki". So they got their regions as a part of the reform package, and now there is supposed to be elections, and no one really cares.

Darn! Now I have taken an interest in Finnish politics! The only thing I know about Finland is Helsinki. Oh, and that squabble with Joseph Stalin eons ago. Finnish soldiers in white smocks and on skis. The gallant Finns. But that is not enough. There is more. There has to be more.

Is Finland set up more like the US or UK. My suspicion is that it definitely is not set up like France.

Is it broken up into regions? Further broken up into municipalities? National Parliament? Regional Parliaments? Municipal councils?

Then we can look later at those mischievous greens. There are no greens in the US, so greens are something like an alien concept this side of the ocean.

Again thanks.