Possible Helsinki-Vantaa merger could be examined soon

Supporters of move do well in municipal elections

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A possible merger of the cities of Helsinki and Vantaa could be one step closer to fruition in the upcoming municipal council term.
     In Sunday's municipal elections, the National Coalition Party, which supports such a move, made significant gains in Vantaa over the Social Democrats, who oppose it.
      Tapani Mäkinen, who led the Vantaa campaign that brought the party its historic victory in Sunday’s elections, says that the possibility of a linkage of the two cities is to be examined.
     “The election result shows that a merger needs to be studied. Making an assessment will take about half a year, and it will be ready in 2009. After that we will make decisions”, says Mäkinen, who is considered likely to be the next Chairman of the Vantaa City Board.
     
Also suggesting that there is momentum behind a municipal merger project are answers to the Helsingin Sanomat online candidate selection engine.
     A majority of the National Coalition Party and Green League candidates elected to the city councils of both Helsinki and Vantaa were willing to join forces. Even Helsinki’s Social Democrats favoured the move.
     Three out of four members of the new Helsinki City Council are in favour of linking up with Vantaa, as are more than 40 per cent of Vantaa’s council members. The Vantaa Social Democrats are unanimously against the move.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, SUNDAY 23:45: National Coalition Party largest party, True Finns big winners, gains for Greens (26.10.2008)

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