No matter, how everybody feels about SDP or Kokoomus, I think the politicians and diapers should be changed often for the same reason and that applies to the SDP politicians and presidents also. It is another question, do SDP right wing and Kokoomus left wing have much of a difference.

I think SDP was as strong as always…

I see that someone’s mommy did not give them enough attention…. Two zeros in the name, that figures.

what’s wrong with unions?

“I see that someone’s mommy did not give them enough attention…. Two zeros in the name, that figures.”

:D

As for the topic, “conservatives” (note the quotation marks), I think it’s great. Looking forward to seeing them #1.

This is Finnish politics 101 in the post-Kekkonen era: two of the Big Three will be in the government, losing in popularity, and the third one grows in the opposition. Occasionally the composition of the government thus changes and the same cycle starts again. During Kekkonen’s time the difference was, of course, that Kokoomus didn’t get be in the government…

The “conservatives” are also riding high on Niinistö’s leftover popularity from the recent elections. Unfortunately for them, the parliamentary elections will be fought by completely different candidates in a local rather than national setting and the conservative/centrist relations will have to be redefined, again. The vicissitudes of the election mathematics will probably lead to somewhat different results no matter what people now tell about their voting preferences.

The reason why Jyrki Katainen got elected party leader so young is that they don’t really expect Kokoomus to leave the opposition before 2011. It takes time to pull up after a eight years in government with basically everyone else. Therefore Kokoomus can as a party hold together even under someone quite unexperienced and wait for the next opportunity, when also hopefully other party leaders will appear old and tired.

I wouldn’t take too seriously a poll that’s mainly measuring whatever day dreams SDP-haters have of Sauli Niinistö.

PHIL GO HELL FROM FINLAND. WE HATE YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mom, I know you miss me and want me back in the states, but no spamming!

8. Now that’s a good one!

Calling Kokoomus “conservatives” is a mistake. Do you seriously believe Keskusta is not a conservative party?

Its all relative. Keskusta has knowingly allinged itself between SDP and Kokoomus. Even the name says it! Kokoomus is the most conservative of the big three, so they are the conservatives. Similary, American liberals arent that liberal.

10. and 11. It too don’t like the words conservative and liberal used in the American way when talking about Finnish parties, because in Finland moral values and economic policies don’t go as much hand in hand as they do in the States. If we called Kokoomus the conservatives, we should call SDP the liberals. Wouldn’t that be weird?

The big problem with Kokoomus is that they accept the premises of the welfare states too readily. They are simply not pro-business enough.

Finnpundit, thats why whe have Perussuomalaiset and Tony Halme.

Perusssuomalaiset are not pro-business. They are just another manifestation of the left-right arc of European parliamentary politics, which is the main problem with that kind of structure: it fails to represent the one facet of society that creates wealth for all.

There really are no pro-business parties in Finland. All parties put nationalism first, and business second, when it should be the other way around.

That’s why they’re holding the power, stupid. The nation is the only source for their power.