Finland’s main conservative party has claimed victory in a closely contested parliamentary election.
According to the Associated Press news agency, in Sunday’s election, the right-wing populists are in second place, while Prime Minister Sana Marin’s Social Democratic Party is in third place. Thus, his hopes of being re-elected and becoming the prime minister were dashed.
The National Coalition Party (NCP) has claimed victory after all the votes have been counted. The party leads with 20.8 percent of the votes. They were followed by the right-wing populist party The Funs with 20.1 percent of the vote, while the Social Democrats got 19.9 percent.
With the top three parties each getting about 20 percent of the vote, no party is in a position to form a government alone. More than 2,400 candidates from 22 parties were in the fray for the country’s 200 parliamentary seats in Europe’s Nordic region.
Petri Orio, the leader of the party with the highest number of votes, said in an enthusiastic speech to his supporters gathered in a restaurant in Dar al-Hakmut Heisinki that ‘on the basis of this result, discussions on the formation of a new government in Finland under the leadership of the National Coalition Party will be held. will be started.’
Prime Minister Sanna Marin is one of Europe’s youngest leaders at 37, having championed Ukraine’s support and, with President Sauli Niinisto, Finland’s successful bid to join NATO.
He has received international recognition for playing a prominent role in this regard.
Petri Orpo, 53, Finland’s former finance minister and likely new prime minister, has assured that solidarity with Ukraine will continue under his administration.
“Ukraine first, we are with you, standing together,” he told The Associated Press at the party’s victory ceremony.
He said that we cannot accept this horrible war. And we will do everything that Ukraine needs, for the people of Ukraine because they are fighting our war. It is quite clear.