Good morning. Sanna Marin was the most popular prime minister in Finland this century, was praised for her handling of the pandemic, and led her country to join Nato - today - with overwhelming support. Sunday’s election saw her centre-left Social Democratic party (SDP) increase its vote share and number of MPs. Nonetheless, she and the SDP have been defeated – and Finland is moving to the right.
After the results came in, the leader of the conservative National Coalition party (NCP), Petteri Orpo, said his party was “a clear alternative to the leftwing government”. He is likely to be the next prime minister. And while it is possible that he will ultimately form a coalition with the SDP, he may first seek to form a government with the far-right Finns party, which had its best election result ever.
