Left Alliance chooses MP Martti Korhonen as its new chairman

New leader calls for NATO referendum

print this

Martti Korhonen a Member of Parliament from Oulu, was elected chairman of the opposition Left Alliance at the party's congress in Tampere on Saturday. Two rounds of voting were required; in the second round, the 53-year-old Korhonen defeated Paavo Arhinmäki, 29, by 273 votes to 150.
      Under Korhonen's leadership, the Left Alliance hopes to secure more than ten percent support in next year's Parliamentary elections, and more than 20 seats in Parliament. The party would also like to get into the next government.
     
Addressing the gathering after his election, Korhonen emphasised his support of powerfully progressive taxation, which favours those with low incomes. He also called for significant rises in basic social security, improved job security for short-term employees, increased hiring for municipal services, and higher student grants.
      Korhonen did not name any threshold issues for agreeing to join the next government. However, he said that if a proposed government policy programme were to call for applying for NATO membership without a referendum on the issue, it might keep his party out of the government. However, he does not expect such a development.
      On Sunday, Korhonen reiterated his call for a referendum before any decision on possible Finnish NATO membership. He also came out in favour of using referendums in determining EU policy. "I am convinced that the Euro-elite's attempt to force the constitution to take effect will not improve citizens' confidence in the Union."
     
Korhonen was chosen to replace the party's chairwoman, MP Suvi-Anne Siimes, who resigned earlier this year over disagreements with the Parliamentary group.
      Korhonen said that his election will lead to a change in the party's management style. "We will look for the common denominator that suits as many as possible, even if we have to vote on it. I require commitment."
      Korhonen emphasised that there is room in the party for young people, women, and "even us middle-aged men". The success of his rival Paavo Arhinmäki, who is considered something of a radical, was in Korhonen's view an indication of a desire for reform within the party.
     
While he emphasised the importance of party unity, Korhonen is taking the lead in a very divided party. Soon after Korhonen was elected, his severe critic Anne Huotari said that she does not plan to seek re-election to Parliament next year.
      Korhonen's election was also followed by the resignation from the party by Matti Viialainen, a leading figure in the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK).
      Viialainen has long been calling for the merger of the Left Alliance and the Social Democratic Party. Viialainen later told Helsingin Sanomat that his decision was not a protest against Korhonen: he says that he mailed his letter of resignation already on Friday.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Suvi-Anne Siimes tenders resignation over split in Left Alliance (2.3.2006)
  Left Alliance leader says party must lose either reformers or conservatives (28.2.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat