Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin Concedes Election as National Coalition Party Claims Victory.
In a surprise turn of events, Finland's left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin conceded defeat in the country's parliamentary election on Sunday, with the opposition right-wing National Coalition Party (NCP) claiming victory. The NCP was expected to win 48 seats out of 200 in parliament, narrowly ahead of the nationalist Finns Party with 46 seats and Marin's Social Democrats on 43 seats.
According to the latest election data, released after all ballots were counted, Marin acknowledged her party's disappointing result but expressed hope for a coalition government. In a speech to party members, Marin said that she had gained support and more seats in parliament despite not finishing first in the election.
The National Coalition Party's leader Petteri Orpo vowed to "fix Finland" and its economy during his acceptance speech, promising austerity measures to curb deficit spending and reduce public debt, which has reached over 70% of GDP since Marin took office. Orpo claimed that Marin had eroded Finland's economic resilience at a critical time for the country.
Marin herself criticized Orpo's party for its stance on immigration from developing countries outside the European Union, which she saw as "harmful". The Finns Party has been a vocal advocate for reducing immigration and implementing stricter border controls.
The outcome of the election marks a significant shift in Finland's politics, with Marin facing criticism at home for her government's public spending and partying habits. Despite this, she remains popular among many young Finns who see her as a role model for progressive new leaders.
With Orpo set to form a coalition government, it is unclear how long Marin will remain Prime Minister. However, she has ruled out governing with the Finns Party, citing their openly racist stance on immigration as a major concern.
In a surprise turn of events, Finland's left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin conceded defeat in the country's parliamentary election on Sunday, with the opposition right-wing National Coalition Party (NCP) claiming victory. The NCP was expected to win 48 seats out of 200 in parliament, narrowly ahead of the nationalist Finns Party with 46 seats and Marin's Social Democrats on 43 seats.
According to the latest election data, released after all ballots were counted, Marin acknowledged her party's disappointing result but expressed hope for a coalition government. In a speech to party members, Marin said that she had gained support and more seats in parliament despite not finishing first in the election.
The National Coalition Party's leader Petteri Orpo vowed to "fix Finland" and its economy during his acceptance speech, promising austerity measures to curb deficit spending and reduce public debt, which has reached over 70% of GDP since Marin took office. Orpo claimed that Marin had eroded Finland's economic resilience at a critical time for the country.
Marin herself criticized Orpo's party for its stance on immigration from developing countries outside the European Union, which she saw as "harmful". The Finns Party has been a vocal advocate for reducing immigration and implementing stricter border controls.
The outcome of the election marks a significant shift in Finland's politics, with Marin facing criticism at home for her government's public spending and partying habits. Despite this, she remains popular among many young Finns who see her as a role model for progressive new leaders.
With Orpo set to form a coalition government, it is unclear how long Marin will remain Prime Minister. However, she has ruled out governing with the Finns Party, citing their openly racist stance on immigration as a major concern.