Finland’s second female prime minister

I just came to think that Finland now has its’ second female prime minister. And this is the second female prime minister in two consecutive cabinets of the same political party. In the year 2003 the Centre Party won the elections resulting in Finland’s female prime minister, who was in charge from mid April to end of June. This is the shortest period for a cabinet to exist, as cabinets tend not to resign until they have been beaten in the elections.

The first female prime minister had to resign because of leaking some secret documents, with a male prime minister to follow from the same party. The male prime minister held his position for 7 years through out the next elections and formed a new cabinet, this time co-operating with a couple of parties.

He in his turn claimed health reasons when announcing his resigning at Christmas time last year, and has now been replaced by the second female prime minister in Finland, who was elected at the Centre Party congress in end of June 2010.

Anyway, I have noticed that there will be an election here in Finland next year. With more than 200 days to go I think that is in good time to get a real electoral campaign going, beginning it in time I mean.

Municipal re-elections

In the last municipal elections this spring some of the municipalities were test pilots in e-voting, that is voting on-line on the Internet, but as it turned out to not work in the expected way, the elections were voided and the polls were carried out again last weekend.

Candidates were the same as in the void polls previously, but it seems that the interest in voting again were even much lower than earlier. This has been a sad trend, the only voring you could actually make an impact in are the municipal polls, as you pay most tax to the town, or municipality you live in, than to the state.

At least one valid reason to vote in your home town.

More interest in politics

Voter turnout in the municipal elections has from the year 2004 improved to 61 percent voting in yesterday’s municipal elections.

24 % had voted in advance and could stay home instead of having to make the trip to the polling stations in the prevailing bad weather with hard winds and heavy rain.

The True Finns Party gained most votes, as their share of voters rose most in percentage still being a small party, but The National Coalition Party were the winners as the got the biggest part of the votes.

These numbers from the elections are just absolutely useless, as they give no hint of what happens in your own city council or municipality. It just gives a clue of the party’s popularity in general all over Finland, with the numbers are added up party-wise.

The interesting part is what happens where you live.

For me remains only one question to ponder about after the municipal elections.

How are people, who already are members of the parliament, and now were elected into city councils and municipalities, going to be able to be at two places at the same time? If they are not able to be in two places at the same time, then they must get double pay for half the job?!?

Pre-voting begins today

Today the pre-voting begins for the Finnish municipal elections at special polling stations.

A campaign has also been launched to try to make most people to vote in advance, as the number of polling stations on the election day itself, has been cut.

Even foreign residents are allowed to vote in the municipal elections, provided they are registered for voting and have a valid piece of identification, which is required of all voters. This gives you a good opportunity to influence the politics in your home town, and the interest in municipal politics is said to have increased, especially among the younger voters.

Laundering

Now the dirty laundry after the parliamentary elections in March here in Finland is washed. The social democrats finally are ready with their investigation about the cause to their defeat in the polls. According to the results their credibility is low as when asked by the general public why they had not realized any of their electoral promises during the 12 years they were in command, the promised tax reductions for example, the representatives had no answers at all, also the ad campaign I was earlier talking about gave people a negative picture of the whole, at least I would not have voted on a party that had that kind of ads, it was demeaning. Now the support for the party is down to a 20 %, so changes will have to be made. Funny how there always is someone or something you have to find as a scapegoat. Why not just realize it was not the right time, or you are heading the wrong way?!?

Also the finances of the representatives are scrutinized, the funding of their campaigns as it does not seem to be transparent enough for the EU council they have sent their representatives to investigate how things went. We will have to wait and see what, if anything comes out of it.

Realistic over-heating

The other day I wrote about the swallows having returned to Finland, well this almost true as there is one swallow that has been sighted, it must be have been the first pioneering scout arriving and but today more of them arrived.
And 10 new species of butterflies are reported to have landed in Finland which means more insects for the birds to eat.

According to the latest statistics the unemployment in April has decreased compared to last year and more people are now working with most of them in the private sector. Out of a population of more than 5 millions only just a little less than 2 ½ millions are employed so the rest must be the unemployed, children, students and retired. Just about half and half.

This means Finland must be doing well but according to the new minister of finances we must be careful as “over-heating is realistic for the time being” and the income tax-levels won’t be lowered as promised until later on, in the end of the four year period of this government just before the next elections.

If more people have got jobs and the taxes are lower, then they have more money to spend and the economy is doing well as money is moving with the possible result of even more jobs getting created.

What on earth is this over-heating? I do know about global warming but that is not what he is talking about, or an engine over-heating, but how does the economy over-heat?!?

Etiquette and politics

Politics are different in every country and now with the French presidential elections there is a good chance to compare it to the Finnish parliamentary elections and how the publicity of the candidates is formed.

In France there have so far been great men of the world as presidents, great seducers and all the male candidates tend to emphasize this. One of them just recently separated managed to get a rumour going about seeing a female journalist, just to emphasize his manhood.

The one female candidate is dressed in virgin white on all occasions; she is cool, friendly and not flirty in any way and only shows her demure side. I guess a flirtatious woman would not be considered trustworthy, whereas a male is. Why?!?

Well, a president in office needs “cojones” so I really hope she has got them if she gets elected. I know that the Finnish president has got them. By the way, she was not even married when getting elected, but she did marry her partner after being installed in office. Guess it makes a lot of things easier being married when having banquets, with the order of the table seating to only mention one thing.

Well, here in Finland the demure style of the French presidential candidate could work, but not the French male seduction campaign, it would probably be considered very manly yes, but not trustworthy. And a politician must seem to be trustworthy when people are voting for them, at least look like they can be trusted.

The newly re-elected Finnish prime minister is single for the time being and this must cause some trouble for many host for various occasions considering the seating order, who match him with this time.

And if he is to become engaged well that would be the day, he should be seated next to his bride to be at all times according to protocol. Or is there another protocol and etiquette for engaged prime ministers, kings, princesses and heads of state?

Blue-green

Today the newly elected announced that they have agreed upon forming a four party government , a blue-green government, and the present prime minister is presumed to be continuing in his office. I wonder how four parties with as varying priorities can come to an agreement from where to begin their reign and be successful in it. But then, as they say, “The loveliest harmonies arise from differences”. Who was it that said that, some French philosopher? Or German maybe?

Anyway, the Finnish customs are now investigating suspected fraud and tax-evasion in steel exports and the actions of some employees in the company suspected in the case, and if I have not got it all wrong, the company in question is part owned by the government. The Finnish government is currently part-owner of 440 companies to subside their operations and helping them to get started and Finland is the least corrupt country in the world according to International research, but what does this suggest?!?

I know, it was Heraclitus! And the full quote is:

“Opposites always complement each other.
The loveliest harmonies arise from differences.”

Smoking

The Estonian president just recently paid a visit to Finland before the elections last week and was interviewed in TV about what is going on in Estonia. The Estonians have had a big controversy in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, about the statue of a Soviet soldier.

Some Estonians want it to be demolished and some want to keep it as a reminder of what once was, even the neighbouring country that once used to be the Soviet Union had their say. As a symbol of the oppression during the occupation by their eastern neighbour I can understand the demands of the destruction of the statue, but like president of Estonia said in his interview; “the free will and choice people now can act out is big enough as proof of freedom and no demolishing of a statue can add to that. There free democratic elections in Estonia today, there exist no murdering of journalists or poisonings of other people disagreeing to the government like in elsewhere”.

Well, here in Finland there also are democratic elections and freedom if speech and the Finnish parliament just got 84 women elected out of a total of 200 representatives, wonder if that will change anything?

Anyway, smoking is going to be prohibited in restaurants here in Finland from June 1st, with the risk of fines to the restaurant if they allow people to smoke on their premises.

Most of the restaurants in this country seem to be going smokeless, as almost no applications for the two year transition period have been handed in. Applications for the transition period have to be handed in to the municipality in good time, by latest May, and only 10 restaurants in Helsinki and 5 in Tampere have done this so far.

So now Finland is joining the other European countries gone smokeless in restaurants like Sweden, Ireland and Italy, to mention some and Germany will follow soon suit as well.

So watch where you are smoking when visiting Europe next time!

Sleet and rain

The most interesting and reported news lately have been the parliamentary elections that were held yesterday.

Less people used their right to vote than in the last elections four years ago, only an average of 67% voted. No real changes, the current prime minister continues in office with the conservative party having gained seats in the house of parliament and negotiations about cooperation by the party of the prime minister is probable in the next few days to come begin.

One strange thing though, how can a representative who already has been elected into parliament last time, getting second most votes in the home county still loose? What is the wrong with this? Who are people voting for if not for someone to represent them and most votes should get you to represent that area of the country that voted for you, or not?

And quite many celebrities were voted into the house of parliament again, so that seems to be one way to advance in politics in this country. Get a gold medal in the Olympics and get elected into the Finnish parliament.

Anyway, now the lovely mild spring weather changed back to the normal sleet and rain. No sunshine in sight. This is so depressing!

Serious cooking

My normal morning routine consist of checking out the latest the news in the morning and also to watch morning TV and check out what they have come up with for an idea of what to cook for dinner today in the Ruokala section, which would be about translated to “Diner” in English.

They send this program every weekday morning and I have been following their cookery on and off for some years now, and I am quite surprised some mornings of what goes on.
By the way, it was in this program that the different party leaders were cooking in, that I mentioned about earlier when talking about campaigning for the elections.

Anyway, I think it is good there is a show like this, giving people new ideas on what to cook for dinner, how to make dishes in new styles and easier ways though their standards in the show has come down greatly since last summer when two of the chefs quit. Anyway, some mornings my tea is at danger coming up the wrong way that is coming out through my nose!

My idea of ideas of food and cooking is inherited from my parents, my father a great chef and restaurateur in his time, and my mother also from the same trade. Nothing beats hygiene, washing your hands, keeping your hair tied up, sharp knives and proper clothing to not injure yourself. Well, imagine my surprise one morning when one of the female chefs was cooking in morning TV, in a very low-cut pink t-shirt risking showing “it all”, not to mention the hazards of burning her boobs!

I can’t even remember what she was cooking, but I would have taken more care of my “goodies” and avoided getting any splashes of hot anything on them!

No this is not the way it is to be done, if you are showing example of how it is to be done, then do show how you are supposed to dress for avoiding greater mishaps.

They do not seem to take their cooking seriously.

Bad hair day

I have long wondered what a “bad hair” day is. I mean, my hair still does what it wants to no matter what I try to do with it. Have tried it all, shampoos, conditioners, hair mousses, gels and sprays, curling tongs and flattening irons, once I have done my hair and go outdoors my hair still falls out of the shape it was forced into and looks just the same as it did before. Only thing is to keep it tied up in a pony-tail or done up with pins, then it stays. Does this mean I do not have any bad hair days, or does it mean that I have them always?

Anyway, right now is not the time to go strolling in nice sunny spring weather in town here in Finland if you want to be left alone. Try crossing any square in town and you’ll get harassed by several campaign workers and even by some candidates running for the parliament trying to push some paper in your hand, chatting you up asking if you are going to vote. Well, no use telling anyone anything about not being able to vote as a foreigner, as the next one will jump on you as soon you leave the first one behind. So if you are going out now for a lone walk in the sun, get your darkest sunglasses on and turn the volume up on your mp3-player with your favourite music. And try avoiding town squares.

Campaigning for Parliament

The new ad for the union is not as controversial as the other ones, this one is just a man crying with a woman consoling him with saying: ”It is okay, you can vote, you can vote on anyone you like. No need to cry. Just vote”

Well, guess this is not a better ad to raise the partaking in the elections, maybe if the political parties and the candidates just kept their promises instead of talking “it” like mentioned in the book I mentioned about last week.

About 29%, of the Finnish citizens who are eligible to vote, that is about 1 million people, voted in advance. The voting in advance ended yesterday and so no one can now vote except on the polling stations on Election Day on Sunday. Yesterday was also the last full gathering at the Parliament before the elections and the campaigning is now becoming even more frantic. Now we see ads for the candidates in every break on TV as well as seeing them in various programs expressing their opinions, that is if you are big and known enough to be taken seriously and the so called “election peace” no more exist, that means that the campaigning by the different candidates and parties can continue until the very end of the voting.

There are quite a few immigrant candidates eligible for the parliament to choose from as well and it will be interesting to see if Finland is ready for having non-Finnish born members of parliament yet, in these elections.

The husband of current justice minister was just found out to have paid for some ad done by an advertising agency without a receipt in the last elections. That is paying no taxes and of course without her consent.

You see, the finances for running for election has to be recorded and verified officially and be on display for everybody to see and somebody did some digging as it hit the news.

Another candidate was last week involved in road accident that killed one person, claiming he has no recollection whatsoever of what happened. No matter what happened, it must be hard to continue like “the show must go on” after such a thing happening to you.

Bullshit

Bullshit would in Finnish be translated to “horseshit” and a book named “Bullshit” was just released here in Finland.

The book hit the market just in time now before the parliamentary elections. The book goes quite in detail on about the art of talking bullshit and according to the author you can practise it getting better at it and become fluent in talking bullshit.

According to the interview with the author of this book especially many “good looking men” dressed in smart in suits, white collars and neckties do make good use of talking bullshit right now just before the balloting for the parliament.

And of course it would be good for any politician in any country to practice to keep talking without saying anything in as many words as possible. One part of what they are saying is probably the truth but among it are whitewashed things, some pulling wool over people’s eyes and the rest of their talk is itself, that is, pure bullshit.

Parliamentary elections

The election ad about voting done by the union I mentioned earlier, with this rich, callous businessman gluttonously eating expensive delicacies in overwhelming and “tacky” luxury speaking out his contempt of the workers’ rights, got withdrawn from the TV because of the reactions it caused among some of the parties running for the Parliamentary elections. I thought it was a bit too rich, and so apparently did others too as it is said to be an attack against the Parliamentary spokesman and the President.

Now I am thrilled to see what ad they come up with next, as there are rumours about a new ad being in the making...

Anyway, here in Finland the elections are not as aggressive as in other countries, quite mellow stuff really, nobody digging up dirt of the candidates, just an ex-girlfriend of the Prime minister getting her “true” story of their love-affair published in a book, which I doubt will make any change to anyone’s opinions of the Prime minister anyway.

Quite a few of the candidates have their own Blog on-line where you can read about their opinions on various subjects if interested, and some have been cooking in the morning TV and also quite a few of them released a book just in time for some publicity before their campaigning began.

Guess no big change will be anyway after these elections either, the participants only whitewash their statements before, tell nice stories people want to hear and then they forget about their promises after getting elected.

Political statement?

The up run to the Finnish Parliamentary elections are progressing towards the voting on March 18th and the advertising outdoors is now allowed with posters of the politicians showing up all over town.

TV has been full of various talks between different party members and also discussions about some of the advertising on the TV accentuating the differences between the employers and their employees it goes like a “big boss” in tacky and over-done luxury with no concern to as what things cost, biting in the middle of a big smoked whole salmon saying things like “well you’ll never get this anyway” showing around his wealthy but overdone surroundings continuing with “but you can still vote, not that it will do any difference anyway”.

This kind of advertising is a bit rich for my taste, but then I am not voting anyway as I am not even allowed to as a foreign citizen. Well, if you do not vote you can not make a change and in a democratic nation this is the only way to have your say. Now the headquarters for the Parliamentary elections of the Social democratic Party was broken into and all their computers were stolen.

Is this maybe a political statement of some kind as a reaction to some advertising or just a plain coincidence?

Politicians showing the way

It is the time for the Parliamentary elections on March 18th, and last week was the last full session in the house before the elections. And now the politicians are running fulltime for the elections and they are seen all the time on the TV, having discussions with each other on different issues or being interviewed, but the strangest thing was to see them on the Helsinki Casino drinking wine and playing Black Jack and Roulette.

I wonder the point is, in showing them off in fancy dresses and surroundings? With several thousand people living out in the cold in the streets with more than twenty degrees below zero in the winter, and having no where else to go, not having any means to buy themselves decent clothes or food?

Guess there is a new elitist class in Finland after all, regardless of all talks about equality between citizens and the attenuation between the social classes. Even the socialist politicians are for the equality between the politicians and want better pay.

The sessions in the Finnish house of Parliament are often broadcasted on TV and when voting on different issues, even important ones I would think, not many of the representatives are present to place their votes. Why should they get better pay when they are never there doing their job?

Is this the elite showing how to behave, for the masses to follow their suite?