PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2027

The parliamentary elections are coming around again – and not a day too soon!

The official election day is on April 18, 2027, and advance voting will take place in Finland from April 7 to 13. The Green candidates for Southwest Finland have been mostly selected in September 2026, and the list of candidates published! You can find all of them in https://varsinaissuomenvihreat.fi/eduskuntavaaliehdokkaamme/. In addition, we present shortly the young candidates on a page dedicated to them! You can find their introductions in the subpage Young candidates!

What are parliamentary elections?

Parliamentary elections are direct, proportional and secret elections held every four years, based on equal suffrage. In these elections, 200 Members of Parliament are elected to the Parliament of Finland to exercise the country’s supreme legislative power. All Finnish citizens who have reached the age of 18 by election day are entitled to vote in the parliamentary elections.

The key players in the parliament are the government and the opposition. The government is responsible for the administration of the country and for executive power. Its duties include, among other things, preparing legislative proposals, drafting the budget, and managing foreign policy. The government is formed by political parties and their Members of Parliament through government negotiations held following parliamentary elections.

Why is voting so important?

Election results and the level of support for various parties largely determine which parties enter the government, what kind of government program is formed, and who ends up wielding the most supreme power in Finland. During the current term, in particular, we have witnessed the shocking ways in which a government can exercise its power. The government in office (the National Coalition Party, the Finns Party, the Swedish People’s Party, and the Christian Democrats) has, among other things, made deep cutbacks to social and health services, stripped funding from vital non-profit organizations, research, and other institutions, and — driven especially by the Finns Party — promoted a highly harmful ideology and rhetoric. The promised action on nature and the climate has failed to materialize; the number of unemployed people is higher than ever; many are struggling significantly; and young people’s faith in the future has hit rock bottom. In our daily lives, we see how intensified attitudes and polarization are having a widespread impact, manifesting in everything from discrimination to actual violence.

Parliamentary elections, however, offer an opportunity to change those in power and take action when a shift in the current situation is needed. In a democratic society, elections play a major role in shaping the policies implemented in the country. By voting, you genuinely influence your own life and daily circumstances — as well as those of your loved ones and the world around you — including the services available to you, the education on offer, and how animals, nature, and the climate are cared for.

Why vote Green?

In light of all the events mentioned above, there is truly a lot at stake in these elections. The direction of Finland must be reversed so that everyone, regardless of age, gender, skin color, religion, origin, health status, disability or any other external matter, would be able to live a good life. We have to create hope and a better future for everyone, and find sustainable solutions. We have to for example stop the climate crisis and the impoverishment of nature, rebuild the welfare state, defend education and culture and promote human rights and equality.

By voting for the Greens, we can shape policy within the Parliament that ensures nature, animals, people, and the planet thrive and flourish tomorrow. However, as the Greens currently only have 13 Members of Parliament and are in the opposition, we need absolutely everyone to vote for a brighter future.

How to get involved?

It’s really easy to get involved in the parliamentary election hype! You can join the candidates’ own campaign teams, or you can work as a volunteer through the Green Association of Soutwest Finland. There are many kinds of tasks, from setting up the tent and distributing flyers, to planning the candidate’s own communications and events. If you have any questions, please send us a message with a low threshold!