COMMENTARY: From changing nappies to taking power

print this

By Toni Peltonen
     
     The younger generation of politicians should be moving from changing nappies to taking power. But how are they supposed to do that, when it seems so hard for anyone to get into Parliament during the years of fertility. The average age of Members of Parliament is getting close to 50.
     Promising twenty-somethings spend their youth earning starvation wages in short-term jobs in non-governmental organisations, political party youth organisations, as aides to MPs, or as party office secretaries.
     All of this is certainly important work, but soon the young angry men and women in the hallways of offices and in the middle of mountains of nappies will turn into sedate adults in their thirties, who have become experts on the administrative system already while they were behind the scenes.
     Ambition and a desire for change fade away, and instead of a political power struggle, many prefer to become parts of the civil service apparatus.
     And even if the desires do not fade away, banging heads against the backs of the middle-aged can start to hurt at some point.
     Promises are not kept, and the young person standing in line is exchanged for someone else.
     
Giving up power has always been difficult, and the same game appears to be continuing in the new century. Many of those who grew up in previous decades feel that they will not hand over power to the younger ones without a fight.
     However, in principle, power should be constantly moving slightly to keep thinking from going stale. This movement is most important between the generations. Now nobody is giving power to anyonen else, and nobody is really taking it either.
     It is interesting in any case to observe into whose hands power will go in the future.
     
This summer Helsingin Sanomat (HS 9.8.) Asked party offices who they expected to be the key decision-makers in the parties in just over ten years.
     Many names were given. First the newspaper pruned away Members of Parliament currently in office. Those in their forties were given some consideration. It is somehow revealing that some of them were put forward.
     The remaining talented figures were sent a questionnaire, and answers came from 50 promising members of Finland's Parliamentary parties.
     The most outspoken opinions concerned Finnish membership in NATO, the construction of more nuclear power, and the right of homosexuals to adopt children. Attitudes were negative toward the first two, and positive on the gay adoption question.
     
When the respondents were asked what values young people should promote in society in the coming years, the answers involved all that was happy and beautiful.
     Pluralism. Equality. Global solidarity. Opposition to the competitive society. Justice. The restoration of the value of democracy. Peace. Well-being in the poor countries. Appreciation for honest work. The fight against climate change.
     A couple of respondents said openly that it is impossible to set common values for young people, as there is so much diversity within the generation.
     
The worst possible mistake would be to throw in the towel and believe that the rigid power structure will not move anywhere. Elections are coming again in March next year, and many hopeful young people will be running.
     One basic problem in getting the younger age group elected is getting enough campaign financing. Many of those in their twenties, who have been candidates before, will opt out this time because they did not see much sense in borrowing money for a campaign that they consider to be a long shot. At the same time, many MPs in office have been collecting a campaign war chest for about four years.
     Getting into Parliament usually requires tens of thousands of euros for the campaign. Young candidates generally cannot afford such sums of money.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 12.8.2006


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Rising political stars reject NATO membership and expanding nuclear energy (9.8.2006)

TONI PELTONEN / Helsingin Sanomat
toni.peltonen@sanoma.fi