Prime Minister Sanna Marin admits election defeat

A new parliament was elected in Finland. Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Social Democratic Party has lost its position as a strong member of parliament.

+++ 10.48 pm: The election in Finland seems to have been decided. As reported by the AFP news agency, Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin has conceded election defeat. After more than 99 percent of the votes were counted, the Conservatives were 20.8 percent ahead of the Finns Party, 20.0, and Marin’s Social Democrats, 19.9 percent. A voter turnout of 71.9 percent was recorded, roughly the same as the last parliamentary election in 2019. Orders are divided into:

New predictions for Finnish election: Conservatives declare themselves election winners

+++ 10.20 pm: Finland voted. All the votes are yet to be counted, but the result seems almost certain. Meanwhile, conservative Petteri Orpo has declared his party victorious in Finland’s parliamentary elections. “You know what? It’s a big win,” the 53-year-old leader of the former opposition National Alliance party cheered party supporters in Helsinki on Sunday evening. “With this decision, we begin to form a new government for Finland.”

After counting 96.8 percent of the votes, Orbo’s party had won 48 of the 200 mandates. The right-wing populist party The Finns came second with 46 seats. Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Social Democratic Party has 43 seats.

New predictions for Finnish elections: Marin’s defeat? Conservatives before the narrow victory

+++ 10:07 PM: Looks like the election is over in Finland. Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s (37) Social Democratic Party lost a strong parliamentary seat in Finland’s parliamentary election. Despite the gains, the party was only in third place behind the conservative National Alliance and right-wing populist party The Finns after more than 90 percent of the vote was counted on Sunday evening.

Former finance minister Petteri Orbo’s conservatives were on their way to an electoral victory and 48 out of 200 mandates. Finns had 46 mandates, Marin’s Social Democrats 43. A provisional final result was expected at midnight on Monday night. The voter turnout was 71.9 percent, the same as in the last parliamentary elections in 2019.

New predictions for Finnish elections: Marin’s defeat? Conservatives are ahead

+++ 9.45 pm: In Finland’s parliamentary elections, the conservative National Alliance is predicted to win. The right-wing populist party The Finns is in second place, public broadcaster Yle reported on Sunday evening. Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s ruling Social Democratic Party finished third. Marin would later lose his post as head of government.

According to the forecast, the Conservative Party will win 48 of the 200 parliamentary seats, the Finns 46, and the Social Democrats 43. As a rule, the broadcaster’s predictions are close to the final result.

First election trends show fierce competition in Finland – what’s next for Sanna Marin?

Updated as of April 2, 9:05 pm: Finland’s election is in full swing. According to one poll, the conservative National Alliance party is slightly ahead in Finland’s hard-fought parliamentary elections. In the extrapolation of radio station Yle on Sunday evening, former finance minister Petteri Orpo’s party won 48 out of 200 mandates. Right-wing populist party The Finns had 46 mandates, while Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Social Democrats had 43. Almost 70 percent of votes were counted at that time.

The first election trend immediately after the polls closed showed Orbo’s conservatives and Marin’s Social Democrats almost evenly matched. Right-wing populists trailed a short distance around their party leader at the time, Rika Burra.

The first election trends show a tight race in Finland – a tight one for Sanna Marin

Report from Sunday, April 2: Helsinki – There are signs of tough competition between the biggest parties in Finland’s parliamentary elections. Former Finance Minister Petteri Orbo’s conservative National Alliance party is initially on 20.8 percent in the first round of early voting on Sunday evening. Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Social Democrats followed close behind with 20.7 percent. The right-wing populist party, The Finns, was also within striking distance with 18.6 percent, the German Press Agency reported.

About 4.5 million Finns were eligible to vote. About 40 percent of them had voted early, including Marin. The first numbers released in the evening immediately after the polls closed were based on these early votes. Observers expected these values ​​to change in the evening. The preliminary final result should be available by midnight on Monday night.

Election in Finland: Past polls have already indicated a tight race

The last polls ahead of Sunday’s election have already indicated a close neck-and-neck contest between the three parties. Whichever party is traditionally stronger in Finland is important because its leader gets the first chance to form a new government under his leadership.

For a majority in the 200-seat parliament in Helsinki, the winner of the election must rely on one of the major parties and one of the medium and small parties. This time it is expected that long alliance talks will be held. Marin has ruled out collaborating with the right-wing populist, national-conservative Finns Party, while Orpo has not.

Finland Election 2023: It will be tight for Sanna Marin

Marin has been the Prime Minister of Finland since late 2019. The 37-year-old Social Democrat leads a five-party center-left coalition and is respected by many Finns as a young and powerful leader. Your government first guided the northernmost country of the European Union through the corona epidemic, and then, together with President Sauli Niinisto, through the NATO accession process, which will soon be concluded: all 30 alliance members have agreed to Finland’s accession. In a few days Finland will officially become the 31st member of the NATO defense alliance.

However, joining NATO played no part in the election campaign. Instead the main focus was on domestic issues like the national budget. Marin’s opponents accuse him of raising the national debt. (slo/dpa/AFP)