Forming a coalition government will be a challenge for Petteri Orpo’s National Coalition Party (Kokoomus). Two options are in the race: Kokoomus (48 seats) + Perussuoalaiset (PS)* (46) + Christian Democrats (5) + Swedish People’s Party (10), with a total of 109 seats. The other option is Kokoomus + Social Democrats (43) + Christian Democrats + Swedish People’s Party, totaling 106 seats.
Considering how much the PS has insulted and burned bridges, it is a sweet irony that the fate of the radical-right party, whether it is in government or not, rests with the Swedish People’s Party.
The PS has attacked the Swedish People’s Party on any occasion. In 2015, the PS pushed them into the opposition, which they did not want as a partner. Throughout the last decade, the PS has tried to weaken the role of Swedish at schools and civil service jobs.
If we are fair, the PS is the antithesis of the Swedish People’s Party in almost everything: Finland’s role in the EU, labor migration, and climate change, to name a few.
Swedish People’s Party MP Eva Biaudet was especially critical of her party forming a government with the PS.
“They do not support the Paris Climate Agreement, development aid, international human rights treaties, the EU, or the strict rule of law that body. it would be pretty reckless if the Swedish People’s Party made it possible for Finland to go in that direction,” she was quoted as saying in Helsingin Sanomat.
What Biaudet said is true. If we don’t watch out, we will end up sacrificing. our democracy like the one in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary.
Better late than never.
The coming weeks will reveal what type of government will rule Finland during the next four years.
