Finland’s left-wing Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, has conceded defeat in the country’s parliamentary election, as the right-wing National Coalition Party (NCP) claimed victory in a closely contested election. The NCP, which is pro-business, is expected to win 48 of the 200 seats in parliament, with the nationalist Finns Party coming in second with 46 seats and Marin’s Social Democrats in third with 43 seats. With all ballots counted, the election marks the end of Marin’s era as prime minister, and the NCP’s leader, Petteri Orpo, will now have the opportunity to form a coalition to obtain a parliamentary majority.
In his speech to followers, Orpo pledged to “fix Finland” and its economy, while Marin congratulated the NCP on its victory and noted that her party had gained more seats in parliament, despite not finishing first. The election outcome signals a shift to the right in Finland, with the NCP promising to focus on issues such as boosting economic growth and reducing taxes, and the Finns Party advocating for tighter immigration controls. The results also reflect a wider trend in Europe, with right-wing parties gaining ground in several countries in recent years.