Opposing Finland’s Thatcherist Turn

An interview with Li Andersson, MEP candidate and leader of the Finnish Left Alliance, Vasemmistoliitto, about the challenges facing the Finnish Left in 2024.

As the European Parliament elections this June draw nearer, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation is conducting a series of interviews with left-wing parties and candidates from across the EU on the election campaign, their political programmes, and the challenges facing left-wing forces domestically and at a European level.

The foundation’s Duroyan Fertl spoke to Li Andersson, MEP candidate and leader of the Finnish Left Alliance, Vasemmistoliitto, about her party’s priorities in this super election year.

What are Vasemmistoliitto’s key priorities in this European Parliament election campaign? What are your key campaign areas or flagship demands?

Our narrative in these elections revolves around reminding voters that the current situation in Finland is what happens when the conservative right wing teams up with the far right or populist right. We are seeing historic attacks against trade unions and workers at a national level, with extreme austerity cuts in social security and health care services, and backwards steps on climate and environmental policy. Our main message is that in the European elections we need to make sure this same development is not replicated on a European level, that this is what is at stake in the European elections.

The main issues we are talking about are workers’ rights, and the need for the EU to pursue ambitious social and labour market policies. Much more could have been done in the past few years, of course, but what has come out of the EU has been fairly good, especially compared to what Finland’s right-wing government is doing. We are also highlighting the need for the EU to focus on youth rights, youth unemployment, and the mental health crisis in the coming years. Of course, we are also talking about the need to continue with an ambitious climate and environmental policy.

These are all areas where a potential right-wing or far-right electoral victory would have the most damaging effect, so we are placing them at the heart of our main narrative in this election.

Read the full article at Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung - Brussels Office.

“Security and the Left” - Impact Workshop

On 8-9 June 2023 the Brussels Office of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (RLS) hosted a workshop in Malmö to facilitate the exchange of experiences and strategies between several left-wing parties grappling with the issue of security policy, particularly in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The event was held face-to-face and invitation-only to guarantee an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality to participants.

The workshop brought together 20 party activists and decision-makers from the political left in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Germany.[1] Participation included current MPs, and members of party leaderships, from Enhedslisten (Denmark), Vänsterpartiet (Sweden), Vasemmistoliitto (Finland), Socialistisk Venstreparti (Norway), Rødt (Norway), and DIE LINKE (Germany).

Participants had the opportunity to exchange views on analysis and strategy, to connect and to learn from each other – gaining useful insights into the experiences of, and debates within, left parties in the Nordic countries and Germany. Through a dynamic mix of inputs and interactive discussions, the workshop concentrated on key questions and challenges for the left in the area of security policy, including the thorny question of left strategies and tactics towards military and security alliances such as NATO.

The workshop was part of an ongoing series of events with a focus on the Nordic countries organised by RLS Brussels.

Read the full report at Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung - Brussels Office.  

„Die wichtigste Folge in Finnland ist die Frage der NATO-Mitgliedschaft“

Russlands völkerrechtswidriger Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine führt zu neuen Diskussionen über den Umgang mit Russland. So sind Finnland und Schweden näher denn je an einem NATO-Beitritt. Würde Finnland der NATO beitreten, würde sich die Landgrenze des westlichen Militärbündnisses zu Russland verdoppeln.

Die wichtigste Konsequenz aus dem Russland-Ukraine-Krieg sei in Finnland die Frage der NATO-Mitgliedschaft, sagt Pinja Vuorinen, Vorsitzende der Linksjugend Finnlands.

Duroyan Fertl befragte sie zu Finnlands Haltung zum Krieg und den zu erwarteten Folgen für Finnland.

Wie reagiert die finnische Regierung auf den Krieg in der Ukraine? Hat er einen wesentlichen Einfluss auf die Haltung? Welche Maßnahmen plant die Regierung, um den Frieden in der Ukraine herzustellen?

Die finnische Regierung hat auf den Krieg in der Ukraine gemeinschaftlich reagiert, alle Parteien in der Mitte-Links-Koalitionsregierung verurteilen den Angriff Russlands auf die Ukraine. Die ersten und wichtigsten von der Regierung eingeleiteten Schritte in Bezug auf die Situation waren Sanktionen gegen Russland, sowohl auf nationaler als auch auf EU-Ebene. Die generelle Einstellung war die Mitverfolgung der Situation, da die Schwere der Angriffe weiterhin schwankt.

Alles in allem war der Angriff für Finnland sowie für ganz Europa ein ziemlicher Schock, wobei die Reaktionen von der Forderung nach überlegten Erwiderungen bis hin zu heftigen Forderungen nach Militäraktionen reichten. Es ist klar, dass als Nachbar Russlands die Sorge über mögliche Sicherheitsrisiken, denen Finnland ausgesetzt sein könnte, zunimmt.

Bis jetzt bestand die Position der Regierung darin, die Ukraine sowie ihre Bevölkerung materiell zu unterstützen, indem sie den Menschen wie andere EU-Länder vorübergehende Zuflucht gewährt. Sie hat auch zu Friedensverhandlungen aufgerufen, und der Präsident Finnlands hat sowohl mit US-Präsidenten Biden als auch mit dem russischen Präsidenten Putin Kontakt aufgenommen.

Lesen Sie den vollständigen Artikel auf der Website der Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung - Büro Brüssel.

“The most significant consequence in Finland has been the question of NATO membership”

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine grossly violates international law and thus leads to new discussions on how to deal with Russia. As a result, Finland and Sweden are closer than ever to join NATO. If Finland were to join NATO, the Western military alliance's land border with Russia would double.

The most significant consequence in Finland regarding the Russia-Ukraine war has been the question of NATO membership, says Pinja Vuorinen, Chair of the Left Youth of Finland.

Duroyan Fertl interviewed her about Finland’s position on the war and the expected consequences for Finland.

What is the Finnish government’s reaction to the war in Ukraine? Are there any significant changes in position? What measures does the government intend to take to establish peace in Ukraine?

The Finnish government has reacted to the war in Ukraine in a unified manner, with all the parties in the centre-left coalition government condemning the Russian attack on Ukraine. The most important step the government has taken in response to the situation has been to push for sanctions on Russia at both the national and EU levels. Generally, the attitude has been to take stock of the situation as the severity of the attack continues to fluctuate.

All in all, the attack has been quite a shock to Finland as it has been to Europe as a whole, with some calling for cool-headed reactions and others making much more heated demands for military action. Being a neighbour of Russia, it is understandable that Finland is particularly worried about the possible security risks the country might face.

So far, the government’s response has been to support Ukraine materially and to provide humanitarian support by offering temporary refuge to its people, as other EU countries have done. It has also called for peace negotiations, and the president of Finland has been in touch with both the US president Biden as well as the Russian president Putin.

Read the full article at Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung - Brussels Office.