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Official Finnish Parliamentary Election Thread - April, 2011

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Mike-O
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Canada has it's own election thread, so why not?
If only slightly interested, summary at the bottom.
If not interested at all, a surprise waits at the bottom as well.


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NOW,

In the upcoming elections, the political scene is brewing in Finland. At the moment there are three major issues, which will affect the outcome:

1. Immigration Policy

Possibly the biggest factor at the moment. The always a bit introverted and shoulder-shrugging Finn is starting to become more and more hateful towards immigrating minorities, while the open-armed welcomer Finn is ready to raise immigrants' rights and benefits almost immediately to the level of a citizen.

2. Nuclear Power

What lucky timing from the ever-so-friendly tsunami greeting our unfortunate phonetic cousins in Nippon, as the importance of nuclear power decisions as a political key issue was beginning to fade away. Now the Green Party is pushing similar hazard risk tests to modern plants and lobbying for the dismissal of all future nuclear plants - and people are buying it.

3. Bailouts for other EU countries

Another hot, hot potato. Greece went down, Ireland followed swiftly behind and Spain along with Portugal are hanging on a quickly-thinning thread above a massive chasm. Being a EU country, Finland along with other member states is obliged by EU Law to bail other countries out with billions and billions of euros. As this new sect of the Law was added a few years back (behind citizens backs, basically) and is unconstitutional in many member states, it is causing a terrible uproar here. Why should we aid them if they fucked up, they say. Well, what will we do if we fuck ourselves, others shout. It's a very delicate matter and going against it would also cause imbalance in International relations.


The Parties

The leading parties at the moment are

Keskusta (former Agricultural Party)
Kokoomus (Bourgeois/rich people Party)
SDP (Social-Democratic Party)

By the way it is looking out at the moment, today, when the pre-voting begun, forums and message boards are filled with people who voted for one of the underdogs,

Perussuomalaiset (True Finns' Party)

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Led by this man, Timo Soini, who is looking out to become a very charismatic person for the average Finn. The True Finn Party is all about favoring Finnish citizens and cutting the rights of immigrants and refugees. While I do agree that the policy needs a long overdue reform (Commit a crime big enough to land you in jail for years and you are rightfully judged? Off you go to your country of origin and banned for the time supposed to be served), True Finns are overall racist and full-on populist. People don't see that behind this immigrant agenda there's basically nothing to hold firm if they actually win the elections or score large amounts of seats.

In a sense, I'm still on pondering who to vote for. Last time my party didn't really pull through and they seem to be bickering over trivial facts like gun laws and completely ignoring the billions we have in national debt with no possible cures. Every voter's test I've done has given me True Finns as top choices, so I don't know what the fuck to do.

I hope some of you find this interesting enough, hell, 10% of NS traffic comes from Norther Europe so wise up and join the discussion no matter where you're from.



Summary:

Read above paragraphs.



To uninterested people:

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Apr 6 2011 12:36PM
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Mike-O
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A televised debate is going on at the moment between eight parties. Shit is hilarious. It's so obvious how biased the network and the debate judges are against the True Finn Party and cutting the leader off every second...

It's just gonna lead to "Oh, poor guy, he didn't get to speak because of the bigger parties, I'm gonna vote for them because I feel sorry now." Fuck this shit with a big, brown lettuce.
Apr 6 2011 2:15PM
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Jane6
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Ah the same scenario as in Sweden then, where the Swedish Democrats recieved so much media attention not only because of their super racist advertisements in tv and radio, but also because they were almost bullied by the other parties.

Which party in Finland is mostly concerned with social issues such as employment for the young? And which party would you like to see win the election and why?
Apr 6 2011 2:34PM
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Mike-O
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Well, the "Rich People Party" is trying to solidify the idea that they want everyone from infant to dry lump of skin to be wealthy/well-off, yet they have pushed that the large differences in income (rich gets richers, poor get poorer etc.) should not be balanced. The party leader was quoted saying that if the balance was created, "even the rich would have to start carrying responsibility for this recession." LOL.


I would like the Green Party to win, as they've mostly reflected my ideals (most important are the so-called Citizen Pay and 6 hour workdays) but they're doing so shitty now image-wise. I'll possibly vote for the Lefty Party, they're a bit on the Marxist side but at least they have a following, ideals and good propositions to make this country a better place overall.
Apr 6 2011 2:44PM
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Jane6
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Well, I dont really know how the employment market looks for people in our age, but the social welfare bit is definitely the thing I care the most about. Of course its bullshit that everyone should be equally rich/well off, maybe in an utopian communist society that could become true, but in reality I guess it doesn't work that way. However, that party sounds just like a typical liberal party, whats their take on the immigration issue?

Whats Citizen Pay? And haha, wow 6 hour workdays? Do you think they will be able to fulfill those promises if they would win the election?

Damn, I seriously have no clue what to choose
Apr 6 2011 2:58PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
To start off, nice Donnie Darko reference in your sig :)


Now, citizen pay is an idea, that would trump the common welfare/unemployment salaries. It would, theoretically, assign every living citizen €600-1000/month, no matter if you're employed, unemployed, student etc. 600 would be enough for a single person to live in a small flat in the capital and have enough money to live, then on top of that possible work salary = it works.

It would do one major thing, give employers the ability to -€1000 per employee a month, meaning they would have the ability to use this money to hire more employees, which would lead to more flexible workig hours and ultimately very short workdays. The human mind is not built for an 40 hour work cycle and we see how it's depressing and destroying people everywhere around us. Just a few hours less would lead to more free time, more productivity, more innovation and most of all, more happiness among workers. In this rat race, if you choose to keep running, a more relaxing athmosphere and flexibility is the one and only answer to a better, future humanity.

I don't think any party has ever kept their word on election promises, so you never know. But I think it's better to strive for something that you hope will affect yourself and the people around you in a positive way, and who the fuck wouldn't mind less work?

;D
Apr 6 2011 3:09PM
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Mike-O
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This thread is already better than the Canadian one.
Apr 6 2011 3:23PM
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Mike-O
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Haha, I've seen him around a couple of times, hilarious guy, you know that he's just acting right?

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


Now back on election track.
Apr 6 2011 3:38PM
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Jane6
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Haha "Smurfette doesn't fuck" <3

Wow, that does sound great! It makes sense as well, Finland have a very high rate of depressed people, right? Maybe this move would make things better, definitely seems to be a step in the right direction. Although, I have one question concerning this; how would they finance this economic support? Higher taxes?
And it would be given to you without any demands whatsoever on the individual? (like, you have to be actively seeking and applying for jobs or studying or whatever?).
Blah, this is what I hate about politics, everything always sound too good to be true. Or maybe I'm just too pessimistic for my own good haha.

Btw, what does the Green Party think of the finnoswedes? haha
Apr 6 2011 3:38PM
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Bright_Nation
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But our election here in Canada is not Finnish yet. You guys need to wait till May.


...had to be said.
Apr 6 2011 3:40PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
...I know I'm just fishing for your vote here hahah!


But the Greens seem to be mostly about the freedom of speech and choices in life, so they are also proposing that the necessity of Swedish should be downgraded at certain parts (allowing options for people in the East to study Russian instead, for example) but I doubt that would happen, because it's unconstitutional and very hard to reform.

The amount of money that people receive at the moment in benefits - child allowance, unemployment pay, living allowance, student allowance etc. do nothing but hinder the system and cause people to play it hard, I know a lot of people who don't need to work as they score €1500-3000 a month by getting benefits and doing little grey market jbs on the side.

The abolishment of these benefits and the €600 MAXIMUM benefit for one person would give a lifeline to every single person, and help in motivating them to move on. If the plan would work, employment would skyrocket here as companies would have more money for hiring and this would be helped by giving companies some tax exemptions if they hire more people etc.

I see it as a utopistic ideal, but I also see it forming, hovering before us, just waiting for someone to give it a push and it will take shape.
Apr 6 2011 3:51PM
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Jane6
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hahaha you could seriously say anything right now and I'd totally buy it, my knowledge about the political climate in Suomi is.. well, non-existing haha.

Ah I misunderstood what you meant, now I'm with you!

Btw, does Finland have big troubles with immigrants? Because I didnt think you guys recieved that many foreigners. The emergence of a party like the True Finns show that theres a widespread hostility towards foreigners (along with the whole EU issue), but which other questions are they raising?
I'm just really interested in how a party of discontent like that have become so big.
The Swedish Democrats' party program was quite frightening, with strong bonds to old Nazi values, but I guess the True Finns arent as extreme like that?
Apr 6 2011 4:27PM
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Mike-O
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It's not completely apparent as to how much the running people have changed in the True Finn party, as it hasn't been popular at all until last fall - that's when things started running high speed for them and hundreds of new potentials wanted to represent them (mostly because of the populist view on immigrants being naughty, cunniving criminals and rapists).

I would not belong to the "Vi Gillar Olika" movement in Sweden, as it is as much sensationalist as the S-Democrats in a sense, but there are so many reports of African and East European immigrants abusing the system and committing crimes here that it has got to stop. Still, even with the large amount of foreigners rushing in now, their percentage of in the crime statistics is small...but it's ever increasing and people really like to point that out, especially the rapes - that I can say is pretty much true, African immigrants are the most prevalent rapists right now and the amounts have soared sky high. Not to mention that the Finnish court system basically says "Rape, Shmape, slap on the hand and off you go", even to pedophiles.
Apr 6 2011 4:39PM
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Mike-O
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..Finnished, maybe? Har har and try again.


...had to be said.
Apr 6 2011 5:08PM
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Jane6
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It was kind of the same thing in Sweden: they went from being this little, obscure movement in the south (known to be hostile towards foreigners) to become spread all over the country. Did you get a chance to see their election video, the one with the muslim women pushing away an old swedish lady in order to get a hold of like even more welfare support or something? Haha, it was banned on TV (for good reasons).

Wow, didnt know that. The SD over here have also stated that its the immigrants who committ the most rapes, but since they never had any statistics on that matter all the non-SD voters just wrote them off as racist and prejudice.
"Rape Schmape" ey? Well, do the TrueFinns want to change the laws concerning rapes/sexual related crimes as well, or do they solely want to kick out the non-natives who are committing these crimes?


I'm just really worried about the tolerance level in Europe right now. The whole business with the Romani people in France and Italy this summer, the right-wing parties who are gaining more and more ground everywhere...
Apr 6 2011 5:10PM
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Ilovewhitestuff
Posts: 726 - Karma: 25
an election just got called here in Canada too, not sure when its happening, but campaigning has already started, and the conservatives are going to win.
Apr 6 2011 5:19PM
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Mike-O
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There's a situation with the Romani here in Helsinki as well.

Three years ago, there were no beggars in street corners in Finland. Not a single one (almost seriously certain about that) but know, after the Romanian borders were opened with the EU consignment, Helsinki has never been so overflooded with organised beggaring (meaning someone flies them here, stuffs 40 people in a 30m2 flat and takes off most at the top as beggars can make up to €100 a day), panic pilfering (come to town by boat/flight/whatever, hit prospects for few days and skip out of country) and well, rapes. The statistics here are not made up about the very high rise in violent rapings, gang rapes, and yes, most perps have been foreign origin, and surprisingly, muslim.

I'm all for intolerance of CRIMINALS, but not one based solely on race or origin. That's why I say: fuck up, get the fuck out. Not petty crimes and circumstances withstanding (have children here etc.) but still, I can't see where the end of prejudice lies and the conforming to criminal values due to race issues begins.
Apr 6 2011 5:20PM
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Mike-O
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And yes, everyone who has a brain is thinking that we should tighten rape laws (with valid proof) a lot.


I have one example about how law is sometimes perceived here:


Case 1. Man sexually abuses 9 children during five years while working as a mislead youth councellor (3 of who were raped before and emotionally vulnerable)


Case 2. Man grows marijuana in his house for own use (amount of growth is minimal, not really enough for good street sales)




QUESTION:

Which person gets 3 years in jail, and which person gets 14 months on parole?

Apr 6 2011 5:34PM
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Jane6
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I've actually noticed that here in Stockholm as well, the massive amount of beggars I mean.

Its definitely a really infected and difficult issue to solve. But if Finland was to leave the European Union, would the borders then be closed for all this kind of human exploatation? I mean, would it really make such a major difference?
One way of looking at things would be that the government should make greater demands on the immigrants, just like they do in other nations (the US, Canada etc), instead of just taking care of everyone who gets off the boat.

Also, the segregation I would say is the main problem. All Africans and Muslims are not rapists or criminals. The problem is that they havent been properly introduced and adapted in their new culture. Unemployment, no knowledge of the language and no sufficient support from the state could be reasons why the crime rate is so high among the immigrants.
But yes, totally agree on the "fuck up, you're fuckin out"-philosophy.
Apr 6 2011 5:39PM
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Mike-O
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That really can't be the problem, as refugees and immigrants are pulling in more cash than a Finnish blue collar worker. On top of that, there was recently a study that showed "Finland's adaptation program is Top 5 in the world" so it can't be that.

Really, it usually is the few in the thick who give a nation/race/religion a bad name. However, there are so, so many reported Somalians, who REFUSE to do any blue collar job, without even sufficient Finnish/English skills, because they think it's demeaning. Yeah. Talk about fucked up.

On the other hand, a good example of someone who was educated, learned the language and strived to become an asset for the Finnish industry was denied time after time of a worthy job (she had law and sociology master's and lots of experience from her country that she escaped) and still no one would hire her.

Then the civil war ended and she moved back to Burundi. She is now their foreign minister and visits Helsinki often. Lulz to be had.
Apr 6 2011 5:56PM
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TaySwift
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i am a finn.............
Apr 6 2011 6:05PM
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Mike-O
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Yeah, a lot of Canadian-Finns around.


Or is your name Finn? Not quite sure if you're playing.
Apr 6 2011 6:07PM
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Mike-O
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....aaaaaaand Portugal falls.

And requires financial help from the EU.



Fuck this shit, really.
Apr 6 2011 6:11PM
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TaySwift
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No my real name is Curtis Bietz, Bietz if you can guess is German. i am german finn. you should of seen how awkward it was when my grandma cousins who was German soldier  in ww2and my grandpa who fought for Canada also in ww2. biggest lol
Apr 6 2011 6:14PM
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Jane6
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Ok..... yeah well in that case the only solution is to have a mandatory language program of some kind, which demands that everyone moving into the country are to be required to know the local language.
Mwah, but this is such a massive issue, gives me a fuckin headache just thinking about how to solve something this big.

And hahah, yeah its such a disgrace that highly educated and skilled workers end up as cab drivers and cleaners, we are really missing out on competent workers.

Apr 6 2011 6:15PM
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Mike-O
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Tell me about it, plus it's hard to be subjective on the matter (negatively ointing out the modern flaws) without being called a racist or populist.

Couple of my friends are voting for the True Finns, because they have bad experiences with criminal foreigners (robbed/mugged many times) and they want to see if something could really change. But they are afraid to say out loud who they voted for as not to be called racists, which they are definitely not.
Apr 6 2011 6:21PM
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PacificRimJob
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PERKELE!!!

=)
Apr 6 2011 6:26PM
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Jane6
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Mhm I get what you mean, plenty of people have been robbed and stuff, and one of my closest friends was jumped and abused and they even tried to put her hair on fire (I mean come on, who does a thing like that??), but I wouldn't vote for an agressive party like that though. A party with views like that will most likely do pretty much everything to get as many followers as possible.. gah dunno.

I'm voting on Friday, and this is still kind of a blurr. The most important questions for me are the ones concerning the environment. Well, I guess the green party is similar to Miljöpartiet, so my vote is most likely to fall on them.
Apr 6 2011 6:39PM
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Mike-O
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Fuck, that's crazy. Again, I don't believe in singling out someone because of their skin color etc. as I've had way more trouble with Finns in my life than any other culture - discounting gypsies, no others, haha.


Yeah, they're Miljopartiet with a capital M.

Hell, W, if I really did change your mind for Greens over SFP then I'm delighted! Fuck yeah.
Apr 6 2011 6:48PM
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
I get fucking glared at bitching about "1 for English, 2 for Espanol" in my country.



Also, damn you Mike-O.... I'm party Gypsie.
Apr 6 2011 6:53PM
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Jane6
Posts: 5359 - Karma: 4,506
Hahaha ;)
Well, I voted for Miljöpartiet in the election over here this fall, but not because I agree with everything they want to change or do, but mainly because of the fact that they are the only party with the environment on their agenda. Haha, and since I dont know jack shit about SFP's ideas the choice is pretty simple ;)
Apr 6 2011 7:03PM
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PacificRimJob
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Why bitch? Its SO AWESOME that we have that, because you just press 2 for espanol, and you get helped right away, because nobody actually thinks they also speak english - which most of the time they do.

Its like a secret shortcut to the front of the line!
Apr 6 2011 7:12PM
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
GODDAMNIT!

One time I called the WA DOL and it was Spanish first.... I had a confuzzled. I was like:
"WA? WTF? It's fucking December.... none of the transient berry pickers are here right now. WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!"
Apr 6 2011 7:15PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
Lol. Least it's better the CA where there are entire massive communities that are only spanish speaking. That's why I'm Bilingual, and I'm stoked on that fact - because when all the drug lords start taking over here from down there, I can roll over the fence and post up on the beach somewhere with not much to worry about anymore haha.
Apr 6 2011 7:23PM
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Jane6
Posts: 5359 - Karma: 4,506
Its done! Just came back from the embassy and my vote is now safe in an ugly brown envelope. Astonishing how many finns who actually live in Stockholm, had to queue for like 30 minutes.
Apr 9 2011 7:15AM
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Mike-O
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Haha, I just found out that a lot of people around Finland are gonna vote for the leader of True Finns... The thing is, most of those people aren't from the Helsinki region where he can only be voted. So they're gonna vote for his number, and the vote ends up on someone else with the same # in their region.


Bwahahaha.
Apr 9 2011 11:15AM
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Proletariat.
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hahaha same thing happens in the BC interior
Apr 9 2011 1:27PM
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Mike-O
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Tonight is the night. Preliminary votes (around 1 million) are in:

Top 3
1. National Coalition 20,2%
2. Socialdemocrats 19,5%
3. True Finns 18,7%
Apr 17 2011 1:02PM
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Mike-O
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This fucking sucks.
Apr 17 2011 1:23PM
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Jane6
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bitches be crazy.

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Apr 17 2011 2:10PM
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Mike-O
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She's going through. She's an old singer. What the fuck can she offer to the parliament?



Apr 17 2011 2:13PM
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Mike-O
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*sigh*

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Apr 17 2011 2:34PM
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Jane6
Posts: 5359 - Karma: 4,506
haha oh man, why cant scandinavian politics be more like Italian... I wouldnt mind having a minister of equal opportunities to look like this.

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Apr 17 2011 2:34PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
SO!

The final results are in.

1. National Coalition 44 seats
2. Socialdemocrats 42 seats
3. True Finns 39 seats (+34 from last election..Jesus)
4. Centre Party 35 seats
5. Lefty party 14 seats
6. Green Party 10 seats
7. Swedish Democrats 9 seats
8. Christian democrats 6 seats
9. Others 1 seat


So, I don't know what this'll mean for Finland. True Finns are big now, but the former big-three coalition (Nationals, Socials and Centre) still have the majority overall if they still pull together.

Fucking hell.
Apr 17 2011 4:57PM
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