Finnish Presidential election

by Sven Triloqvist Sun Jan 15th, 2006 at 05:05:30 PM EST

Current president (Social Democrat - the favourite) Tarja Halonen just failed to make 50% in the first round of voting today, Second was Rightish former Finance minister Sauli Niinistö with 24.1% and third was current prime minister Matti Vanhanen from the Center party (also rightish) with 18.6%.

Vanhanen promised support for Niinistö when conceding defeat.

a touch more below...

Should make it a very interesting second round two sundays from now. Halonen's support has been dropping, and Niinistö could pick up a lot of votes from the now excluded other parties.

The Finnish President's responsibilities are Foreign Policy (in cooperation with the Eduskunta or Parliament), and being Commander-in-chief. Halonen (the first female President) has been a sympathetic but perhaps too laid back President. Her period was marked by serious debate about role of Pres. Finns are embarrassed that both Halonen and Vanhanen (PM) both turn up for international Foreign Policy meetings of any kind abroad.

But I don't see near-future likelihood of any lessening of Presidential powers.

Niinistö is an excellent manager and superb in finance. He is credited with turning the economy round and creating stability during his period as CFO of Finland. There were loud squeals from the left with his mild austerity programme, but it showed results quite fast. He's also has an affair with (some say) the sexiest lady in Parilament, former beauty pageant miss Tanja Karpela - currently Culture Minister. She's from a different party (Vanhanen's Center Party), so there was always room for a bit of scandal. But Niinistö handled himself as a gent.

He can also be seen rollerblading around the streets of downtown Helsinki. He's a widower. He is currently VP of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg.

I have to say that though I prefer Niinistö, Halonen is OK. Even Vanhanen would have been no threat. We've lived with coalition governments for so long here, we are just happy that no-one attempts anything too radical.

Finnish Presidential election | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Compared to other countries... (4.00 / 3)

... the political scene and elections in Finland seem like to go like a breeze. Boy, what a lovely nation.

Perhaps this makes me sound old-fashioned, but after so many years of hectic politics, I've been longing to see the end of the "interesting times". A break would be nice, alternatively.

Finland seems like a pretty good sanctionary. And I do know 2 Finnish sentence already...

Thanks for the update, Sven. I reckon there won't be much about this election on Dutch tv...

by Nomad on Sun Jan 15th, 2006 at 05:56:52 PM EST

In Holland this week (4.00 / 3)

BTW I'll be in Wamsveld seminaring wednesday-thursday and in Amsterdam Fri-Sunday, if either you or Oui would like to meet up for a coffee.

Finland is not quiet - only politically ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sun Jan 15th, 2006 at 06:16:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

EuroTrib Meetup - Netherlands '05 (4.00 / 2)

.
Sven, that's a quick organizer.

Beautiful place for a seminar Huis `t Velde in Warnsveld

For a cup of coffee and a short meet-up you are very welcome at my place in The Hague, ready accessible near Huis ten Bosch. If you prefer some Chinese or Indonesian food, The Hague has some excellent restaurants either in city center or the sea resort of Scheveningen.

Djawa

Sunday would be difficult to meet, except in the evening.

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

▼▼▼ READ MY DIARY ▼

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 07:26:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EuroTrib Meetup - Netherlands '05 (none / 0)

Oui, I'm trying to get my schedule organized. As I understand it, I'm free Saturday daytime in Amsterdam - I could rent a car or take a train to Den Haag. Be nice to meet up at last.

I will be connected to the net both in my Amsterdam hotel and at Warmsveld. So I'll leave a message in this diary by thursday latest, if I could trouble you to check in. But Saturday lunch looks possible...

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 10:16:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Excellent (none / 1)

.
InterCity connection from Zutphen/Warnsveld to Den Haag Centraal by train is excellent.

You'll arrive in the heart of The Hague, near parliament buildings Het Binnenhof and Mauritshuis Museum. I covered Het Lange Voorhout in one of my diaries - U.S. Embassy Moves - and gives a historic sense of The Netherlands. It offers most attractive spots to see and fine restaurants for a lunch and enjoyment.

Looking forward to meet up sometime coming Saturday.

Any more invitations going out on your initiative?

«« click on pic to enlarge
Map The Hague

● Beauty of Democracy ¶ Humor Dutch Style -- June 1, 2005

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

▼▼▼ READ MY DIARY ▼

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 11:17:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I'd be interested of course... (none / 0)

... The Hague is a great city of which I've seen too little. But as typed below, I've already plans for Saturday afternoon specifically.

by Nomad on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 11:46:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Excellent (none / 1)

Oui - let's just agree that I will come for lunch (from Amsterdam) on Saturday around 13.00.

richardatpeoples.fi

email me a cell number and address. I'll find my way

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 12:41:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

A-ok (none / 0)

.
Will do.

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 02:55:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Nice. (4.00 / 2)

Hiya Sven. Thanks for the invite, although I'm thinking Oui already stole the biggest piece of the pie! I'm commuting frequently between Amsterdam and Utrecht these days, so I'm around. However, I've already appointments on Saturday afternoon with my family, so I've to bail out that day. I do have the liberty to take off the Friday afternoon/early evening, but I'd completely understand if you'd like some time on your own instead of constantly butting into bars with EuroTribbers...

And true to my name here on ET, I'm busy migrating, so I won't recommend my place at Utrecht because 1) it's a shed only fit for students and 2) because of my moving away, it's an empty shed. I couldn't even offer you a respectable chair if I wanted...

by Nomad on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 11:44:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Nice. (none / 1)

Nomad - I'm staying at Hotel le Coin in central Amsterdam on Friday evening, if you are in Amsterdam then and have time for a drink. I'd be most happy to meet you. After two intensive days of spouting and sparring about alternative organization theories, I would indeed welcome a little R&R and a discussion of plate techtonics ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 12:38:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Nice. (none / 0)

After two intensive days of spouting and sparring about alternative organization theories

Don't forget to pack a club, cricket bat, half-brick in a sock, or other heavy blunt object of your preference. Although, I confess, whips and chains also have their uses. I haven't been to a European conference but I understand Dr. Guillotine's little device is widely praised but - alas - not widely used. Having these devices available greatly relieves stress during the 3rd hour of the presentation of the paper: 'Utilization of the Definite Article 'The' in Corporate Memorandi: A Case Study of Analytic Tools for Communicatory Structures and Strategies (a Dysfunctional Approach).'

One of the nicest things about being an independent researcher is not being forced to attend those damn conferences anymore.

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

by ATinNM on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 12:51:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sadly, I'm keynote speaking ;-) (none / 0)

But, I can assure you, they'll be rolling in the aisles.

I am known for breaking all the rules of public speaking. I'm a kind of lectern hooligan.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 02:44:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sadly, I'm keynote speaking ;-) (none / 0)

Ah-Whoops!

Change Rhetoric,

(WAIT for it!)

I've always said ...

these conferences provide an excellent venue for multi-disciplinary cross-fertilization.

(Or)

these conferences provide a much needed space for informal intra-disciplinary discussions in a climate of collegial respect.

And the keynote speech is always eagerly anticipated as it is a vital part of ... & yadda, yadda, yadda.

;-) & LOL

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

by ATinNM on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 03:34:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

To Sven from Oui (none / 0)

.
Please confirm you received my email this evening.

Thanks - wil see you tomorrow!

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Fri Jan 20th, 2006 at 04:18:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Finnish Presidential election (4.00 / 4)

Moominmamma's best ability has been that a lot of people can identify themselves with her. As a politician her laid-back style is popular but perhaps too off-handish for Finns hoping for more stern leadership from President. Her leadership has been quite uneventfull (I do not count one or two mishandled official naming as mistakes, after all, every president does one or two badly handled official namings). But haven't we too much socialist power in this country already?

Niinisto is suberb money handler. He is also polished persona who can be counted on not screwing himself up in public (he has breezed through any notional "scandals"). He does has surprisingly good image as both youthfull and conservative. His right wing economic liberalism are perhaps too a shade too right for urban voters.

Vanhanen represents the non political civil servant style politics of not rocking the boat. His style is very quiet and he can be counted on running a tight ship. His lack of colour is great asset for day to day work but perhaps more flair is expected from president. Then again, centre's rural promoting and socially conservative politics are perhaps still slightly out of synch with mostly urban modern voters.

For actual policies a change of president would perhaps mean, eh, pretty much nothing because coalition governments are the rule. If left-centre government changes to right-centre government we might see minor changes to policies and perhaps some of the previous government's issues being postponed a bit. Expect first spirited discussion to be rural support money in parliament...

I voted Niinistö myself as a change of guard...

by Nikita on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 01:43:40 AM EST

Muuminland (none / 0)

Interstingly Niinistö did very well in Naantali - home of the Muumins AND the President's summer abode ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 10:06:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I presume (none / 0)

you are also based in Finland?

IS had a special election insert today which was informative.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 10:18:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Finnish Presidential election (none / 1)

I agree with Nomad. It would be nice to have a presidential contest where one really was really not all that concerned if the other candidate won. I really could use some laid-back politics these days...no make that these years.

Thanks for the updates.

by gradinski chai on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 11:26:17 AM EST

Finland Update (none / 0)

More eliminated candidates now back Niinistö, including Kallis (Christian Dems) and Lax (Swedish party). Niinistö didn't win anywhere in the first round - a map of the entire voting areas shows only Red for Halonen and green for Vanhanen, except for a tiny blue bit west of Helsinki - where Nokia is based!

Indeed Niinistö's strongest areas were urban and southern. And this is the basic problem here - large though Finland is, the population is concentrated around Helsinki and the southern coast. Maybe a third or more of the 5 million+ population live within an hour's drive of Helsinki.

The two Finlands - by legend, you either live inside or outside the 'Ring 3' road that circles greater Helsinki - are getting further apart, politically.

BTW I just heard a funny description of the Finnish 'vodka tourists' that (used to) visit St Petersburg for cheap boozing. Translated from Russian we are called "Our 4-legged friends" ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 12:28:40 PM EST

Finnish Presidential election | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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Finnish Presidential election

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