SDP chair Sanna Marin asked Finnish EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen (SDP) to be the party's presidential candidate.
"I hope to be able to vote for Jutta Urpilainen for President early next year, and that is why I have asked her to run as the SDP's candidate for this demanding task," Marin said in a speech at the party's parliamentary group summer meeting in Vantaa on Wednesday.
"Jutta – if you stand as our candidate, I can promise that you will have a united SDP behind you, which will support you in every way in the race," Marin said.
Marin started her speech by saying that democratic values have been under attack in Finland since Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's (NCP) government took office at the beginning of the summer.
"The Finnish people deserve a president with uncompromising values, experience and deep knowledge of world politics," Marin said.
Marin also slammed the current government for its handling of a series of racism and far-right scandals over the summer.
Not fully up to speed with the new government's scandal-filled summer? Last week's All Points North podcast looked back at the series of racism and far-right scandals that rocked Orpo's newly-formed coalition government. Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, Apple or via Spotify.
"The published writings display in shocking language the values and disposition of the politicians in charge of the government," Marin said, referring to the racist texts by Finns Party ministers brought to light by various reports over the course of the summer.
Marin went on to describe the kind of leader she thought Finland needed.
"Finland needs a president who understands that Finland can only succeed as part of a strong European Union."
Urpilainen thanked Marin for the request and the party for its support. She said she would consider the matter and announce her final decision by November.
"The request from the party president is a matter of honour. I have promised to give serious consideration to our chair's request. As part of my consideration, I will look into the compatibility of my candidacy with my current role as Commissioner," she said in a speech at the SDP meeting.
Campaigning while commissioner
Urpilainen noted there are precedents in Brussels, according to which an EU Commissioner has taken a leave of absence for the duration of their candidacy in their home country.
When asked whether she would have to give up her position because of the candidacy, Urpilainen said there would hardly be such a formal obstacle to her campaign.
"No. It is a practice in the Commission that if someone stands as a candidate in, for example, national presidential elections, they will be on unpaid leave, and no other commissioner will be appointed in their place," Urpilainen told reporters after the press conference.
According to Urpilainen, the actual consideration of running for president is related to whether there would be support for the values she represents, both among SDP members and in Finland in general.
"It is important for me to be sure that I represent qualities and values that are in demand in Finland, and that there is support in SDP's field. I want to discuss this with the people of the party," she clarified.
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