A majority of Finland’s members of parliament, including 14 out of 19 ministers, are preparing to run as candidates in next spring's municipal elections.
Centre Party Secretary Riikka Pirkkalainen told Yle that the candidacy of MPs and ministers can play a pivotal role in local elections.
"They often deliver significant numbers of votes because they have proven to be reliable candidates in national elections and voters are familiar with their names," Pirkkalainen said.
In terms of how politicians can divide their time between national and local responsibilities, Pirkkalainen said it was feasible and largely comes down to scheduling.
"Competence in municipal policy is invaluable in the work of a Member of Parliament. For example, legislation on services, which is enacted by Parliament, becomes a reality in the daily lives of municipalities," Pirkkalainen explained.
Prime Minister running in Tampere
News agency STT asked Finland’s parliamentarians about their local election plans, and found that well over half of MPs -- including many government ministers -- will be seeking election to city and municipal councils on the third Sunday of April next year.
Among the Centre Party ministers, party chair and Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko plans to stand in the municipality of Oripää in southwest Finland, while Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen will seek election in Tuusula, Minister of Finance Matti Vanhanen will stand in Nurmijärvi, and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä in Pertunmaa.
Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä has not yet declared his candidacy.
STT also found that a number of Social Democratic Party (SDP) ministers have local election ambitions, including Prime Minister Sanna Marin in her home city of Tampere.
In addition to the PM, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru will stand in Pori, Tuula Haatainen and Timo Harakka will run in Helsinki, Sirpa Paatero will be a candidate in Kotka and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will seek re-election to Lahti city council.
The party’s Minister of European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen has not yet revealed if she plans to run again for a seat on Oulu’s city council.
From the Left Alliance, party chair and Minister of Education Li Andersson will be a candidate in Turku while Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen plans to run in Riihimäki.
From the Swedish People’s Party, Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson will once again be a candidate in the west coast city of Jakobstad (Finnish name Pietarsaari), where she has held a seat since 1997. Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist will run as a candidate in Raseborg (Raasepori).
None of the Green Party’s three ministers were willing to reveal their candidacy plans to STT.
Party chair and Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo was elected to Helsinki City Council in the last election in 2017, where Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has also previously served as a member of the council. Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Krista Mikkonen has been sitting on the Joensuu city council but did not confirm her candidacy for next year.