Helena Halme Author

Nordic Fiction with a hint of Noir and Romance

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Join My Launch Crew
  • New Novel Sneak Peek
  • Contact me

Voting in Finnish general elections

April 6, 2011 by Helena Halme 1 Comment

I’ve written before here about my slight obsession with democracy and elections and the importance of using your right to vote. Hence, I was excited like a little girl, when a few weeks ago, the voting slip for this year’s Finnish general elections popped through my letterbox.

Finland has been an independent country with universal suffrage since 1917 – this is only a couple of generations ago, and in my view should never be taken for granted. I won’t give you another history lesson (I can hear you nodding off already); all I’ll say is that a country situated next to a large superpower values its independence – and being able to freely vote for a government is part of this.

My problem is that since I don’t live in Finland, I’m not as up to date with the politics there as I should. When I go ‘home’, I spend most of my time in Åland, a self-governing part of Finland which has its own elections, or in Sweden, and often don’t visit Finland at all. (My Finnish heart aches).

So this morning I’ve spent an hour looking through the candidate listings. I know which party I want to vote for, and I still vote in the constituency I lived in when I left the country some 25 (ish) years ago, so the list has only about forty or so names. The first thing I look for is anyone I know (this is possible in a country of only 5 million people), next for any women, because I feel the need to carry out some positive discrimination. This may not be necessary: Finland currently has a female President as well as a female Prime Minister, but I need to make my list of possible candidates shorter, so this is as good a way as any. Then I take away all teachers – I don’t know why, just because – and I have a manageable list to choose from.

Due to the wonders of the interweb I can now Google my shortlist and hey presto, I have my own little election campaign on screen – most candidates even have a video clip succinctly stating their policies.

After some careful consideration, I have my candidate, and can say I chose her with some kind of an academic approach as opposed to just sticking a pin blindly on a list (which has happened, sadly, in the past).

I cannot tell you how excited I now am about the prospect of casting my vote later. What’s more the Finnish Embassy will today – to celebrate the first day of voting – throw it’s doors open and have guided tours of the Embassy building in Knightsbridge. I cannot wait to see the sauna in the basement – will it still be there, I wonder?  There will reputedly be coffee and cinnamon buns on offer too.

Afterwards to celebrate the whole wonderful free election process, and being multicultural, I will take Daughter for royal tea – as recommended by my blogging heroine, LLG. I can’t wait.

You may also like:

Default ThumbnailMoomins on the Riviera – a new feature film Default ThumbnailCoffee and Vodka is out! Default ThumbnailNordic food: my dirty little secret Default ThumbnailA view from the terraces

Comments

  1. Jaana says

    April 6, 2011 at 7:24 pm

    vaalikone.fi would have been a good place to start…

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Free Story for my Readers Group only!

Read an Exclusive First Chapter

NEW

Find out more

new

View Book

Alliance of Independent Authors /

Free Exclusive Bonus Chapter

looking for the self publishing coach?

Follow me on Instagram

First time on the Elizabeth Line. #elizabethline First time on the Elizabeth Line. 
#elizabethline #londonlife #tube #farringdon
I’m into orange at the moment, I wonder why? 😄🧡📙
Five weeks to publication of AN ISLAND HEATWAVE today. 💃
https://mybook.to/AIH #linkinbio
What a lovely surprise! AN ISLAND HEATWAVE has hi What a lovely surprise! 
AN ISLAND HEATWAVE has hit #No1 on Amazon.💃
The novel is now on pre-order offer. 
https://mybook.to/AIH
Link also in bio. 😉🧡📙
It’s a frosty, sunny morning in North London. Fe It’s a frosty, sunny morning in North London. Feels a bit like home. 🥶🇫🇮🇬🇧
Load More Follow on Instagram

Follow Me On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget
Alliance of Independent Authors /

writing and publishing tips

Read Exclusive First Chapter

free exclusive bonus chapters

Copyright © 2023 · Author Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in