Candidates for National Coalition Party leadership meet for debate in Espoo
Greens seen as party to beat, and potential partner
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No great differences of opinion were evident when five candidates for the leadership of the moderate conservative National Coalition Party met for a public debate at the Tapiola Cultural Centre in Espoo on Monday.
The debate was the first of a series of panels to be held around the country before the opposition party chooses a new leader in June.
The candidates revealed some differences in their political style.
Jyrki Katainen took a somewhat broad view of political debate, pointing out that the choice was not only for a leader of the National Coalition Party, but rather that of the future direction of Finland.
Kimmo Sasi and Jari Vilén focused on giving detailed descriptions of issues which they consider important.
Marjo Matikainen-Kallström said that she had the advantage of not belonging to any group or clique within the party. Martin Saarikangas was true to his industrialist background, noting that he has always emerged when there has been a need for someone to make extensive repairs.
Chairing the panel was Janne Virkkunen, editor-in-chief of Helsingin Sanomat, who may well have had a long list of questions on political issues, but he was overwhelmed by the audience, who wanted to know what kind of potential party leaders were on offer.
According to Saarikangas, a strong leader is a key factor in a united party. Matikainen-Kallström emphasised that the National Coalition Party needs an "airing among its own people". Vilén agreed that after 16 years in government, it would be a good time to reflect on the party’s values.
When asked who the party represents, most candidates identified the constituency as working people and entrepreneurs. Katainen objected to the question, saying that the National Coalition Party is a party of values, and not a special interest group. "This is not a party of the Bold and the Beautiful alone", he said.
Each one of the candidates longed for a centre-right coalition government. There was a general feeling that the party’s hopes for reform in taxation, working life, and the welfare state would be easier to promote in cooperation with the Centre Party than with the Social Democrats.
Katainen won a round of applause when he said that the National Coalition Party should stop the rise of the Green League. However, he also called for a coalition government in which the Greens could participate.
Matikainen-Kallström said that the "sensible greenness" of the National Coalition Party could be a foundation for negotiations on cooperation with the Greens.
Sasi felt that it was a problem that the Greens contain both "liberals", who are easy to get along with, and "fundamentalists".
Vilén said that the foundation of cooperation could be that both the National Coalition Party and the Green League have fresh ideas, but that only the National Coalition Party has the skills needed to carry them out.
All candidates except Vilén were ready to take Finland into NATO at some stage. Vilén would only say that in 2007 a prime minister from the National Coalition Party would hold discussions on the foreign and security policy line with whoever is President at the time.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 27.4.2004 - TODAY |
 Candidates for National Coalition Party leadership meet for debate in Espoo |
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