Finns began voting in a general <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/finland-populists-eye-election-upset-as-anti-immigrant-feeling-rises-210029&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjIk862jc_hAhVF6Y8KHX6nCyMQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3E21nbv1oUkOAi3q4uhvqf">election</a> Sunday where the centre-right government is expected to be overturned amid widespread opposition to its spending cuts, and the far-right is predicted to make large gains. As polling stations opened at 9:00 am (0600 GMT), Helsinki was typically quiet, and a trio of young women was the first to appear at the Normaalilyseo high school in the city centre to cast their votes.

A record 1.5 million Finns, over a third of the electorate, have already cast their ballots during a week of advance voting this month. "After those who have voted in advance, we have about 1,700 people who have a right to vote today (in this district)," election official Vesa Hintsanen said at the school Sunday.

Much of the debate in the run-up to the election has been about whether the next government should continue the current administration's public spending cuts. The opposition Social Democratic Party, which Finland's main polls predict will win by a margin of about two percentage points, has vowed to alleviate the austerity policies introduced by the ruling coalition over the past four years.

Aware the public mood has turned against any further belt-tightening, the Centre Party of incumbent Prime Minister Juha Sipila and his centre-right governing partner the National Coalition Party, have insisted the economy is now strong enough to allow for an easing of austerity. In recent months, Finland's far-right Finns Party -- previously languishing in fifth place in opinion polls -- has surged in popularity to become the second- or third-biggest party, according to recent forecasts.

The Finns Party focused its campaign on immigration, urging people to "Vote for some borders", and on climate change, where it denounced the "climate hysteria" of other parties and pledged that citizens should not have to pay for efforts to contain global warming. Polling stations close at 8:00 pm (1700 GMT), with a provisional vote count expected before midnight.

Governments in Finland are usually coalitions of three or four parties. The winner of most votes Sunday will be tasked with heading negotiations to form a majority government.&nbsp;

Finns began voting in a general election Sunday where the centre-right government is expected to be overturned amid widespread opposition to its spending cuts, and the far-right is predicted to make large gains.

Finns began voting in a general election Sunday where the centre-right government is expected to be overturned amid widespread opposition to its spending cuts, and the far-right is predicted to make large gains. As polling stations opened at 9:00 am (0600 GMT), Helsinki was typically quiet, and a trio of young women was the first to appear at the Normaalilyseo high school in the city centre to cast their votes. A record 1.5 million Finns, over a third of the electorate, have already cast their ballots during a week of advance voting this month. "After those who have voted in advance, we have about 1,700 people who have a right to vote today (in this district)," election official Vesa Hintsanen said at the school Sunday. Much of the debate in the run-up to the election has been about whether the next government should continue the current administration's public spending cuts. The opposition Social Democratic Party, which Finland's main polls predict will win by a margin of about two percentage points, has vowed to alleviate the austerity policies introduced by the ruling coalition over the past four years. Aware the public mood has turned against any further belt-tightening, the Centre Party of incumbent Prime Minister Juha Sipila and his centre-right governing partner the National Coalition Party, have insisted the economy is now strong enough to allow for an easing of austerity. In recent months, Finland's far-right Finns Party -- previously languishing in fifth place in opinion polls -- has surged in popularity to become the second- or third-biggest party, according to recent forecasts. The Finns Party focused its campaign on immigration, urging people to "Vote for some borders", and on climate change, where it denounced the "climate hysteria" of other parties and pledged that citizens should not have to pay for efforts to contain global warming. Polling stations close at 8:00 pm (1700 GMT), with a provisional vote count expected before midnight. Governments in Finland are usually coalitions of three or four parties. The winner of most votes Sunday will be tasked with heading negotiations to form a majority government.

Voting begins in Finland's 'anti-austerity election'

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/finland-is-worlds-happiest-country-9591">Finland</a>'s government resigned on Friday after ditching plans to reform the healthcare system, a key policy, throwing the country into political limbo.

The president approved Prime Minister Juha Sipila's resignation and asked his government to continue as a care-taker government until a new cabinet has been appointed.

The collapse of the government comes just one month before parliamentary elections are due, after Sipila failed to push through the reforms. The changes were crucial to the three-party governing coalition's plan to balance public finances.

Financial constraints are colliding with the healthcare costs imposed by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/will-robots-replace-teachers-finland-experiments-with-robots-to-teach-students--127795">Finland</a>'s fast-ageing population. But cutting those costs is a major political obstacle in a Nordic country that historically has provided an extensive and expensive healthcare system.

Several governments have tried to push through reforms in different forms over the past 12 years.

An election is already set for April 14 April.

Finland's government resigned on Friday after ditching plans to reform the healthcare system, a key policy, throwing the country into political limbo. The president approved Prime Minister Juha Sipila's resignation and asked his government to continue as a care-taker government until a new cabinet has been appointed.

Finland's government resigned on Friday after ditching plans to reform the healthcare system, a key policy, throwing the country into political limbo. The president approved Prime Minister Juha Sipila's resignation and asked his government to continue as a care-taker government until a new cabinet has been appointed. The collapse of the government comes just one month before parliamentary elections are due, after Sipila failed to push through the reforms. The changes were crucial to the three-party governing coalition's plan to balance public finances. Financial constraints are colliding with the healthcare costs imposed by Finland's fast-ageing population. But cutting those costs is a major political obstacle in a Nordic country that historically has provided an extensive and expensive healthcare system. Several governments have tried to push through reforms in different forms over the past 12 years. An election is already set for April 14 April.

Finland government resigns over failure of healthcare reform

Finland's GPS signal was intentionally disrupted during <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-turns-up-uninvited-to-major-nato-wargames-175349">NATO war games</a> in the Nordic countries over the past few weeks and the culprit could be <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russias-putin-inspects-war-games-and-vows-to-beef-up-army-165406">Russia</a>, Prime Minster Juha Sipila said on Sunday.

Finland's air navigation services on Tuesday issued a warning for air traffic due to a large-scale GPS interruption in the north of the country. Norway posted a similar warning about loss of GPS signals for pilots in its own airspace at the end of the October when the NATO exercise began.

"It is possible that Russia has been the disrupting party in this. Russia is known to possess such capabilities," Sipila told public broadcaster Yle.

Finland is not a NATO member but it took part as an ally in 'Trident Juncture', NATO's largest exercise in decades which ended on Wednesday. Forces from 31 countries participated in the games close to Russia, in an area stretching from the Baltic Sea to Iceland.

Finland shares a 833-mile (1,340 km) border and a difficult history with Russia. It has lately developed closer ties with NATO but stopped short of full membership in line with a tradition of avoiding confrontation with its eastern neighbour.

 
&nbsp;

Finland's GPS signal was intentionally disrupted during NATO war games in the Nordic countries over the past few weeks and the culprit could be Russia, Prime Minster Juha Sipila said on Sunday.

Finland's GPS signal was intentionally disrupted during NATO war games in the Nordic countries over the past few weeks and the culprit could be Russia, Prime Minster Juha Sipila said on Sunday. Finland's air navigation services on Tuesday issued a warning for air traffic due to a large-scale GPS interruption in the north of the country. Norway posted a similar warning about loss of GPS signals for pilots in its own airspace at the end of the October when the NATO exercise began. "It is possible that Russia has been the disrupting party in this. Russia is known to possess such capabilities," Sipila told public broadcaster Yle. Finland is not a NATO member but it took part as an ally in 'Trident Juncture', NATO's largest exercise in decades which ended on Wednesday. Forces from 31 countries participated in the games close to Russia, in an area stretching from the Baltic Sea to Iceland. Finland shares a 833-mile (1,340 km) border and a difficult history with Russia. It has lately developed closer ties with NATO but stopped short of full membership in line with a tradition of avoiding confrontation with its eastern neighbour.

Finland's GPS disrupted during NATO war games, Russia could be responsible: PM Sipila

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Voting begins in Finland's 'anti-austerity election'

Finland government resigns over failure of healthcare reform

Finland's GPS disrupted during NATO war games, Russia could be responsible: PM Sipila