Election debate

[wilpuri]

As you may or may not know, the parliamentary elections in Finland will be held in the coming spring, and the campaigning is beginning to start in earnest. There's a debate held today in the centre of Helsinki, which I'm going to see, because my favourite candidate (although he isn't running in my electoral district) will be present.

I'm hoping it will be interesting, as 'my' candidate is fiercely critical of multicultural society and the current immigration policies, while all the others present are pro-multiculturalism and pro-more immigration.

The people taking part are:
Jussi Halla-aho (True Finns, independent candidate) <- my guy
Kimmo Sasi (National Coalition)
Osku Pajamäki (Social democrats)
Reko Ravela (Left Alliance)
Antti Kaikkonen (Center party)

I'll report back after the event. I'm looking forward to an interesting debate.

[Ragabash]

Most likely I will not follow coming elections as much as I used to, and might even restrain from voting.

I have noticed that almost all politicians in Finland are like different sort of berries, small differences in colours and taste but in general the differences are too small to make them categorized in different species.

[wilpuri]

Most likely I will not follow coming elections as much as I used to, and might even restrain from voting.

I have noticed that almost all politicians in Finland are like different sort of berries, small differences in colours and taste but in general the differences are too small to make them categorized in different species.

Exactly! And that's why I'm not voting for the major parties.

[Evariste]

Most likely I will not follow coming elections as much as I used to, and might even restrain from voting.

I have noticed that almost all politicians in Finland are like different sort of berries, small differences in colours and taste but in general the differences are too small to make them categorized in different species.

It's much like that in America, too. I'm sure that the homogenization of mainstream political candidates is a world trend, which is quite frightening. It's bad in that it tends to make politics rather drab. It's worse in that it forces us to vote for the lesser of two (or more) evils.

[wilpuri]

It's much like that in America, too. I'm sure that the homogenization of mainstream political candidates is a world trend, which is quite frightening. It's bad in that it tends to make politics rather drab. It's worse in that it forces us to vote for the lesser of two (or more) evils.

Already in several successive elections are Europe it has been the small parties that have been adcancing at the expense of the smaller parties. I'm pretty sure this trend will continue. Of course, that's hardly of much significance in two-party democracies.

[Erik]

my favourite candidate (although he isn't running in my electoral district) will be present.

Why doesn't he run in your district?
You have proportional representation in Finland, don't you?
And can't you just vote for somebody else from his party instead?

I have noticed that almost all politicians in Finland are like different sort of berries, small differences in colours and taste but in general the differences are too small to make them categorized in different species.

Same can be said about most Dutch politicians from mainstream parties.
But interesting enough the more "extreme" parties were the huge winners in last weeks Dutch elections, and the most flavorless parties were the biggest losers.
Maybe the same could happen in Finland?

It's not so good for forming a new cabinet (if a majority coalition is even possible), but it has certainly spiced things up a bit.

I would like to remind that in Finnish parliamentary elections candinates gather votes for their party and themselves. Parliament seats are given to the most succesfull parties that give the seats for most voted persons inside the party.

Same here, except candidates need 0.667% (1/150th) of the total votes to earn a right to a seat in parliament.
If they fail to get enough personal votes their party will assign the seats based on their own criteria.
During the last elections only one candidate earned a seat she wouldn't have gotten without her personal votes.

But what's wrong with this system? and how do you think it can be improved?

[wilpuri]

Same can be said about most Dutch politicians from mainstream parties.
But interesting enough the more "extreme" parties were the huge winners in last weeks Dutch elections, and the most flavorless parties were the biggest losers.
Maybe the same could happen in Finland?

Finland is always a few years behind the rest of Europe in these things.

But yes, that's the way its been going here, I mean just think of the avalanche-victory of Tony Halme. A colourful persona. Useless in parliament, but colourful.

[Ragabash]

Erik.

I would much more prefer personal elections instead of current party elections and merge some of the electoral districts, perhaps even remove them as a whole.

Wilpuri.

Don't forget 'Veltto Virtanen', member of the parliament who didn't took a hat off inside the parliament (while drunk?) and was thrown out of the building.

That man was a true jester of the Finnish parliament.

[Erik]

Erik.

I would much more prefer personal elections instead of current party elections and merge some of the electoral districts, perhaps even remove them as a whole.

How would that work then?
Would you give the same voice to somebody who got 1 million votes as you do to somebody who got 20.000 votes?

Don't forget 'Veltto Virtanen', member of the parliament who didn't took a hat off inside the parliament (while drunk?) and was thrown out of the building.

They threw him out because he was wearing a hat, not because he was drunk?
Is it normal for members of parliament to show up drunk in Finland?

btw: are you talking about this guy?

He looks....well....uhm...interesting.

[Ragabash]

How would that work then?
Would you give the same voice to somebody who got 1 million votes as you do to somebody who got 20.000 votes?

Of course both would have the same rights and privilidges.

Personal elections would remove candinates who get their seats, not because people voted for them but that they belong to party that got enough votes for many seats.

And that is the same person Erik, 'Veltto Virtanen'.

I don't remember all the facts of the situation when he was thrown out of the building as I was quite young when this happened.

Now we have another jester in the parliament, 'Tony Halme'. Ex-Boxer who have been convicted for several crimes, have connections to underworld and have made some quite foolish stuff, like shooting in his house etc..



It seems like the Finnish parliament needs at least one jester to make politics interesting.

[Spart]

My first chance to vote this time, so I might even follow these things a bit.
It's sadly true that politics isn't so interesting these times, when one can't tell the difference between Coalition party and Left party. They all just try to please everyone to get votes.
True finns, eh? Never supported them really. If I did vote them, that would be because of the candidates own personality. I agree with him about some things.
I'm still undecided, so I'll see your report. Or maybe I'll just sell my vote to someone :p

[wilpuri]

My first chance to vote this time, so I might even follow these things a bit.
It's sadly true that politics isn't so interesting these times, when one can't tell the difference between Coalition party and Left party. They all just try to please everyone to get votes.
True finns, eh? Never supported them really. If I did vote them, that would be because of the candidates own personality. I agree with him about some things.
I'm still undecided, so I'll see your report. Or maybe I'll just sell my vote to someone :p

Well, Halla-aho, although he is on the list of the True Finns, it is only out of necessity. Which other party would have him, even as an independent?

I voted for Timo Soini in the first round of the presidential elections, but only because I didn't like any of the other candidates, not because I think Soini would make a good president (who knows?). In the second round I voted Niinistö.

[Ragabash]

People often ask me why do I choose to restrain from voting, and that it's better to vote someone who is above average then not vote at all.

I would like to remind that in Finnish parliamentary elections candinates gather votes for their party and themselves. Parliament seats are given to the most succesfull parties that give the seats for most voted persons inside the party.

This makes possible for candinates to get seats inside the parliament even if their personal votes are less then some other candinates whos parties have not been able to get enough common votes.

This is one of the reasons why I tend to restrain from voting in most elections.