Finland votes: PM Sanna Marin faces tough election battle in bid for second term

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Saturday (April 1) urged people to cast their votes for her Social Democratic Party (SDP), which according to her is a "better alternative".Over 2,400 candidates from 22 parties are vying for the 200 seats in the Finnish parliament, the Eduskunta.

Marin, who in 2019 became the world's youngest premier at 34, addressed people as she campaigned ahead of Sunday's election which sees three parties running neck-and-neck in opinion polls.

While speaking at a rally in central Helsinki, Marin said, "Tell your friends, family and relatives that now is the time to vote, now is the time to vote Social Democrats."

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She argued that if SDP doesn't come out on top in the elections, we will see a right-wing government of the Finns and the National Coalition Party that will "pursue policies that are really unfair from the point of view of ordinary people".

In Finland, three parties are running neck-and-neck in opinion polls. The most recent survey shows the National Coalition leading with 19.8 per cent support, ahead of the Social Democrats and the Finns Party at 19.2 per cent each.At the rally, Marin told the news agency Reuters, "The situation is very tight. We have three parties that are eye-to-eye with each other. Anyone of these three parties can win tomorrow and of course we hope that we will enter first and continue our work that we have been doing for the last four years."

Marin, one of Europe's youngest leaders, received praise for her handling of the COVID pandemic and her rolein advocating for Finland's successful application to join NATO. Her vocal support of Ukraine increased her visibility.

Marin is fighting to stay in power as the country faces a recession.

(With inputs from agencies)


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