May Day passes with few incidents
Cold weather calms revelry, politicians hold traditional speeches
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The First of May holiday weekend, which was celebrated in unseasonably cold weather around Finland, passed more peacefully than usual in all parts of Finland.
On Saturday, May Day Eve, police had their hands full responding to what was seen as a normal number of calls involving intoxicated revelry, assaults, and drink driving.
The celebrations followed traditional patterns; in Helsinki about 45,000 people gathered in Kaivopuisto Park on Sunday for the annual student May Day festivities. In the afternoon a man aged about 20 was hospitalised after falling about seven metres off a cliff on the main hill in the park.
The most serious accident occurred in Espoo on Saturday night, when a man was killed when the car in which he was riding crashed into a tree. On Saturday evening a young woman was hit by a tram in the centre of Helsinki.
In the northern city of Oulu about 20 young men took part in mass fight in a park in the centre of the city on Saturday evening.
In Kajaani a young man was seriously injured in a stabbing on Saturday night.
In Kuopio, a man was stabbed in the leg at his home. Instead of seeking help at a hospital, he hobbled to his local pub about half a kilometre away.
Politicians of various parties commented on current issues in traditional First of May speeches. Outgoing Social Democratic Party leader, Parliamentary Speaker Paavo Lipponen called for a sharp reduction in the number of municipalities in Finland. Speaking in Pori on Sunday, Lipponen urged the government keep the reins in its own hands in the reform.
Opposition Left Alliance Chairwoman Suvi-Anne Siimes called for closer cooperation among parties of the left in European Union policy. Speaking in Joutseno in the southeast of Finland, Siimes aimed veiled criticism at her party's MEP Esko Seppänen, suggesting that he does not always care what the European trade union movement thinks.
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) sought to allay fears linked with possible reforms of municipal welfare services. Speaking in Helsinki, the Prime Minister said that his government is strongly in favour of services and their availability.
Opposition conservative National Coalition Party leader Jyrki Katainen warned in his speech in Siilinjärvi that the "government's failed employment policy" is a threat to the financing of welfare services. He urged the government to give an honest answer to what municipal finances will look like when the promised 100,000 new jobs fail to materialise.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 2.5.2005 - TODAY |
 May Day passes with few incidents |
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