Three reasons for the rise of the True Finns

Self-interest, sympathy, and calculated protest all back joining the True Finns' national movement

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By Juha-Pekka Raeste
     
      According to an opinion survey carried out for Helsingin Sanomat, the opposition True Finns, who have just five MPs in the outgoing Parliament, are currently the second-largest party in the country, polling 18.4%, and behind only the National Coalition Party, who have 20.7%.
      They have already overhauled the National Coalition's government partners in the Centre Party (18.3%) and the opposition Social Democrats (17.4%).
     
In so doing they have thrown the April election into flux as Finland comes to terms with the prospect of not three but four "big parties".
      They have also caused anxious looks from abroad as pundits wonder whether a victory for the Eurosceptic (and eurosceptic) True Finns spells trouble for the euro bailouts and a new "troublemaker" mantle for the Finns, who have hitherto been model EU citizens.
     
In fact the raw figures are even wilder: without adjustments to reflect the national situation, the TNS-Gallup numbers came back with the True Finns comfortably in the lead overall, taking 23.8% to the 22.3% of the National Coalition Party.
      The Centre (17.1%) and SDP (14.9%) were already a mile behind.
     
Several explanations have been put forward for the meteoric rise of the True Finns.
      Some point out that this is a national movement and not a party as such. Sociologists have commented that the voting public are giving a sharp slap on the wrists to professional politicians who are seen as too young and all too alienated from the daily round that people have to live with.
      At a True Finns election rally in the shopping centre of the less than prosperous Helsinki suburb of Jakomäki on Saturday, three other reasons surfaced for the astonishing growth in support from the modest 4.1% they received at the Parliamentary Election of 2007.
     
The first reason is offered by 59-year-old Reino.
      He explains that he is a worker from a typical blue-collar family, who has until now always cast his vote for parties of the left, the Left Alliance or the Social Democrats.
      This time he intends to back the True Finns.
      Reino says he has long been unemployed and that he has noticed there is no longer any work being offered for men of his age.
      In his view, the traditional large parties intend to raise the retirement age after the dust has settled on the election, whatever they might say during the campaign.
      "And the Social Democrats, too, are in a complete mess", sighs Reino.
      Hence he feels he has been left with no real alternative.
     
A second reason came from Milja Jokilehto, 68.
      She reported that she had also voted for the True Finns before now.
      "There's a certain sense of protest going on right now. There's nothing on offer from other directions. The other parties are all cast in the same mould, and something sticks in the throat", explains Milja.
      Milja's convictions are soon put to the test when one of the True Finns candidates in the capital - the former long-distance runner and double European Champion [in Helsinki in 1971] Juha Väätäinen - joins us.
      Väätäinen, who sought election unsuccessfully four years ago on a Centre Party ticket, says that he wants to become Minister of Housing if he is elected and the True Finns get seats in government.
      "With the Greek bailout money we could build 20,000 new homes", says Väätäinen.
     
The claim leads to a lively discussion-cum-argument over just how much Finland has put in to support the Greeks, and whether the loans or guarantees are money already down the drain.
      This prompts Milja to explain to Väätäinen that a guarantee and giving money away are two very different things.
      After their discussion, I ask Milja whether she still intends to vote for the True Finns.
      The reply is very telling. Milja turns to Väätäinen, grabs him around the shoulders, and gives him a vigorous hug.
      The message is clear. It really doesn't matter if one of ours screws up a bit every now and then. The most important thing among your own is sympathy.
     
A third reason for the rise of the True Finns is supplied by Jussi Halla-aho, a city councillor and candidate for Helsinki.
      Few would bet against his becoming elected next month, and probably with a hatful of votes.
      "The True Finns are a protest party", says Halla-aho right off the bat.
      He goes on to add that the traditional parties and the political journalists have made a grave mistake in criticising the True Finns for their protest stance.
      "It would be better worth their while looking in the mirror and working out what went wrong", he declares. "There is nothing pejorative or worthy of disdain about protest."
     
Now the old parties have in Halla-aho's view indicated beyond doubt that they have not succeeded in their job.
      The True Finns, on the other hand, remain a bit of a question-mark, and that is enough to tip the balance.
      Halla-aho believes it is a waste of time to think that candidates are going to be voted in for the party programmes or for the competence of the man or woman for the job.
      Often just being able to string some words together is good enough.
      But there is nothing new in this, he says, in a veiled reference to a former Centre Party minister.
      "They've voted for beauty pageant winners before, haven't they?"
     
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 28.3.2011


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Polls: Top four parties close – True Finns either in second or fourth place (18.3.2011)

JUHA-PEKKA RAESTE / Helsingin Sanomat
juha-pekka.raeste@hs.fi