Finland lurches
Distinctly right of right. It's not clear to me how we've got into this position. Sipilä sent a questionnaire to each of the other party leaders, and my understanding is that the reply from PS revealed a sizeable number of significant differences between Keskusta's positions and those of PS. I was hoping that this would exclude PS from government, but sadly it seems not, unless the negotiations fall apart.
On the other hand, it may be that Sipilä does not have a lot of room to manoeuvre. The main problem is the collapse of the left wing vote. Some 15 years ago the two main left wing parties (SDP and Vasemmistoliitto) had a combined strength of more than 40% of the parliamentary seats; now it is under 25%, on top of which, no-one, SDP included, wants to work with Vasemmistoliitto.
Talk at the moment is that Soini will head the Exchequer. Given the parlous state of the country's economy, that may make it a tough time for him.
Distinctly right of right. It's not clear to me how we've got into this position. Sipilä sent a questionnaire to each of the other party leaders, and my understanding is that the reply from PS revealed a sizeable number of significant differences between Keskusta's positions and those of PS. I was hoping that this would exclude PS from government, but sadly it seems not, unless the negotiations fall apart.
On the other hand, it may be that Sipilä does not have a lot of room to manoeuvre. The main problem is the collapse of the left wing vote. Some 15 years ago the two main left wing parties (SDP and Vasemmistoliitto) had a combined strength of more than 40% of the parliamentary seats; now it is under 25%, on top of which, no-one, SDP included, wants to work with Vasemmistoliitto.
Talk at the moment is that Soini will head the Exchequer. Given the parlous state of the country's economy, that may make it a tough time for him.
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