Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin has conceded defeat in the country's parliamentary election, marking the end of her era as prime minister. The opposition right-wing National Coalition Party (NCP) claimed victory, winning 48 seats in parliament, narrowly ahead of the nationalist Finns Party with 46 seats and Marin's Social Democrats on 43 seats.
Marin, who is just 37 years old and was the world's youngest prime minister when she took office in 2019, had faced criticism at home for her partying and public spending. However, she remains popular among many young Finns and moderates, despite being seen as a lavish spender on pensions and education.
The NCP leader Petteri Orpo vowed to "fix Finland" and its economy, promising to curb spending and stop the rise of public debt. He will get the first chance at forming a coalition to obtain a majority in parliament, ending Marin's era as prime minister.
Finland's foreign policy has also been a notable aspect of Marin's leadership, particularly her push for NATO membership following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The process is now almost complete, with Helsinki expected to join within days after all 30 Western defense alliance members approved the accession.
Marin called the Finns Party "openly racist" during a debate in January - an accusation they rejected. Orpo has said he will negotiate with all groups to obtain a majority in parliament, while Marin has said her Social Democrats may govern with the NCP but will not go into government with the Finns Party.
The country's economic situation is also a major concern for Finland, with public debt reaching over 70% of GDP since Marin took office. The NCP has promised to address this issue through austerity policies and reducing immigration from developing countries outside the European Union.
Marin, who is just 37 years old and was the world's youngest prime minister when she took office in 2019, had faced criticism at home for her partying and public spending. However, she remains popular among many young Finns and moderates, despite being seen as a lavish spender on pensions and education.
The NCP leader Petteri Orpo vowed to "fix Finland" and its economy, promising to curb spending and stop the rise of public debt. He will get the first chance at forming a coalition to obtain a majority in parliament, ending Marin's era as prime minister.
Finland's foreign policy has also been a notable aspect of Marin's leadership, particularly her push for NATO membership following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The process is now almost complete, with Helsinki expected to join within days after all 30 Western defense alliance members approved the accession.
Marin called the Finns Party "openly racist" during a debate in January - an accusation they rejected. Orpo has said he will negotiate with all groups to obtain a majority in parliament, while Marin has said her Social Democrats may govern with the NCP but will not go into government with the Finns Party.
The country's economic situation is also a major concern for Finland, with public debt reaching over 70% of GDP since Marin took office. The NCP has promised to address this issue through austerity policies and reducing immigration from developing countries outside the European Union.
. i mean, she was only 37 and already became one of the youngest pm in the world. but at the same time, i can understand why the opposition would want a change. finland's economy has been struggling and the public debt is getting out of hand. 
maybe petteri orpo's plan to "fix finland" will work out? 
but what about marin's views on social issues like immigration? she was quite strong on it, even if some people thought it was a bit confrontational 
. anyway, i hope the next govt can address finland's economic woes and make sure everyone has access to education and pensions 
. And those Finns Party people, they're no saints either. Petteri Orpo's all about fixing Finland, but what does that even mean? Is it just gonna be more of the same old austerity vibes? 
.
. That's some good news for the country... and for global security, you know? So here's to Sanna Marin - may she find solace in whatever comes next 
.
so i was just thinking about sanna marin's gov stint and how she got roasted for partying 
but at the same time, ppl love her for being young & ambitious...idk if it's a good thing to be seen as a "lavish spender" tho...seems like finland's economy is in shambles 
... like, she was only 37 and already became PM? That's crazy 
! She always seemed so young and full of energy, you know? 
But at the same time, I get why people were upset about her partying lifestyle and stuff... it didn't exactly scream "prudence" 
. Anyway, fingers crossed that Petteri Orpo can fix Finland's economy 
! 
like pushing Finland into NATO membership 
and improving education & pensions 
& public debt 
like Sanna Marin calling them "openly racist"... u know how that went down 
Orpo says he'll negotiate with all groups 2 get a majority, but we'll see... time will tell 
. But I get it, politics is all about change & moving forward 
.
.
, considering Russia's invasion of Ukraine 
. It's reassuring to know that Finland is taking a strong stance on global security 
.
& how they'll work with the NCP 
. Will we see a more conservative government 
? Only time will tell 
!
but hey, it's not all bad, Finland is joining NATO which is a big deal for the country 
. On the bright side, Petteri Orpo is now in charge and he seems like a pretty cool dude 
. He promises to fix Finland's economy, which is a huge deal for the country 
. And can we talk about how close Finland is to joining NATO? It's like, they're almost there! 
and i kinda feel bad for her she's only 37 lol 
I'm kinda surprised about Sanna Marin's concession 
. And now, it looks like Petteri Orpo is taking over with his "fix Finland" plan 
. And what about her popularity among young Finns? Did she lose some support in the election? 
... but I think it's possible to find a balance that works for everyone. Maybe Orpo can use his NCP magic to make Finland a happier place 
just sad to see marin go - she was such a young leader, but i guess her partying antics finally caught up with her 
. it's interesting that people are already talking about her "lavish spending" on pensions and education... 70% public debt is no joke!