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WORLD NEWS Saturday 13 april 2019

Finns to vote on how best to save their welfare state

By JARI TANNER now is finding ways to pre-
VANESSA GERA serve the social system that
Associated Press has for years topped global
HELSINKI (AP) — Finns will quality-of-life and happi-
be voting Sunday in a par- ness rankings and created
liamentary election shaped a world-renowned educa-
by debates on how best tion system. Voters will be
to preserve their generous choosing among 19 par-
welfare model despite hav- ties to fill 200 seats in Parlia-
ing one of the world’s most ment. In all, five parties are
rapidly aging populations. polling at over 12% support,
And in this Nordic nation, including the conservative
which has one-third of its National Coalition Party,
territory above the Arctic the nationalist Finns Party,
Circle, anxieties over cli- Sipila’s Center Party and
mate change are emerg- the Greens.
ing more than ever. The Finns Party, formerly
In many respects, the known as the True Finns,
choices facing Finland’s 4.5 was in opposition for its first
million eligible voters reflect 20 years but won nearly
trends seen across Europe: 18% support in 2015 and
a populist anti-immigrant, was part of the govern-
euroskeptic party is rising Chairman Antti Rinne, left, of the Social Democratic Party and the Centre Party chairman Juha ment coalition until 2017,
in opinion polls, while tradi- Sipil’ joke during parliamentary elections debate arranged by newspaper Helsingin Sanomat in when a faction defected.
tional political parties have Helsinki, Finland, on April 9, 2019. Associated Press Despite the split, the party
lost ground. In Finland, the has surged in recent opin-
nationalist Finns Party is poll- Led by Antti Rinne, a former The outgoing center-right finances after a three-year ion polls under its soft-spo-
ing in second place. finance minister, the Social government led by Prime recession. ken leader, Jussi Halla-aho.
But in an exception to that Democrats plan to raise Minister Juha Sipila, leader Sipila and his Cabinet re- An April 11 poll by Finnish
trend, Finland’s center-left taxes and increase spend- of the Center Party and signed in March, a month public broadcaster YLE
Social Democratic Party ing to preserve a welfare a former technology ex- early, after failing to push showed it emerging as the
tops a recent poll with 19% system that is under huge ecutive, pushed through through a major social and second-largest party with
support. It would still need strains. The party has also an austerity package af- health reform package. over 16% support. The poll
to find coalition partners if it vowed to continue the ter winning in 2015. That With its low birth rate and gave a margin of error of
ended up trying to form the country’s pro-European helped Finland return to quickly aging population, plus or minus 2.3 percent-
next government. Union policies. growth and improve public Finland’s key challenge age points.q

Balkan states urged to resolve

differences to join EU

Associated Press of the so-called Berlin Pro- man Chancellor Angela
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — cess, which brings together Merkel and French Presi-
Countries in the western Bal- those aspiring states and dent Emmanuel Macron,
kans aspiring to join the Eu- some EU members, Maas Berlin is also to host a meet-
ropean Union, such as Ser- said it was “very important ing of western Balkan and
bia and Kosovo, should be to offer the countries in that EU high representatives
given a clear pathway to region a clear perspective April 29. He said those who
membership provided they of membership.” provided do not seek reconciliation
Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, right, and his German solve their differences, Ger- any differences including with neighbors will remain
counterpart Heiko Maas shake hands prior to the Berlin Process man Foreign Minister Heiko any lingering from the wars stuck in their past, also in
Foreign Ministers meeting in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, April 12,
2019. Maas said Friday. At a con- of the 1990s are resolved. the area of economy and
Associated Press ference of foreign ministers On an invitation from Ger- social welfare.q