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| Finland election: Tough coalition talks after split poll | Finland election: Tough coalition talks after split poll |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Social Democratic Party has won a narrow victory in Finland's general election with 17.7% of the vote. | The Social Democratic Party has won a narrow victory in Finland's general election with 17.7% of the vote. |
| But the far-right Finns Party was close behind on 17.5%, while the Centre Party of outgoing PM Juha Sipila saw its support crash by a third to 13.8%. | But the far-right Finns Party was close behind on 17.5%, while the Centre Party of outgoing PM Juha Sipila saw its support crash by a third to 13.8%. |
| "For the first time since 1999 we are the largest party in Finland," said SDP leader Antti Rinne. | "For the first time since 1999 we are the largest party in Finland," said SDP leader Antti Rinne. |
| But with the vote split and no party winning by a clear margin, it may be hard to build a workable coalition. | |
| The Greens and the Left Alliance also increased their share of the vote. | The Greens and the Left Alliance also increased their share of the vote. |
| It is the first time in more than a century that no party has won more than 20% of the vote. | It is the first time in more than a century that no party has won more than 20% of the vote. |
| Voter turnout was 72%. | Voter turnout was 72%. |
| The Social Democrats have won 40 seats in the 200-seat parliament, one more than the Finns Party. | The Social Democrats have won 40 seats in the 200-seat parliament, one more than the Finns Party. |
| At the last election in 2015, the Finns Party won 38 seats, but MPs split after a leadership election in 2017. | |
| For Jussi Halla-aho, who has led the Finns Party since then, the rebuilding of the party's parliamentary block was a cause for celebration. | For Jussi Halla-aho, who has led the Finns Party since then, the rebuilding of the party's parliamentary block was a cause for celebration. |
| "I could not expect a result like this, and no-one could, " he told supporters on Sunday evening. | |
| Mr Halla-aho had urged people to "vote for some borders" during the election campaign. | Mr Halla-aho had urged people to "vote for some borders" during the election campaign. |
| Before the election, most other parties ruled out any coalition with the Finns Party. | Before the election, most other parties ruled out any coalition with the Finns Party. |
| How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
| Last month, Mr Sipila's government resigned over its failure to achieve a key policy goal on social welfare and healthcare reform. His Centre Party had been in a centre-right coalition government since 2015. | Last month, Mr Sipila's government resigned over its failure to achieve a key policy goal on social welfare and healthcare reform. His Centre Party had been in a centre-right coalition government since 2015. |
| Concerned about Finland's expensive welfare system in the face of an ageing population, Mr Sipila made tackling the nation's debt one of his government's main aims, introducing planning reforms he hoped would save up to €3bn (£2.6bn; $3.4bn) over a decade. | Concerned about Finland's expensive welfare system in the face of an ageing population, Mr Sipila made tackling the nation's debt one of his government's main aims, introducing planning reforms he hoped would save up to €3bn (£2.6bn; $3.4bn) over a decade. |
| More about Finland's welfare experiment: | More about Finland's welfare experiment: |
| But while the introduction of austerity measures - such as benefits cuts and pension freezes - resulted in Finland reducing its government debt for the first time in a decade last year, the reforms proved politically controversial. | But while the introduction of austerity measures - such as benefits cuts and pension freezes - resulted in Finland reducing its government debt for the first time in a decade last year, the reforms proved politically controversial. |
| Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party, a centre-left party with strong links to Finland's trade unions, saw its popularity grow. | Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party, a centre-left party with strong links to Finland's trade unions, saw its popularity grow. |
| Why has this happened now? | Why has this happened now? |
| The Social Democrats campaigned on a pledge to strengthen Finland's welfare system. | The Social Democrats campaigned on a pledge to strengthen Finland's welfare system. |
| Mr Rinne earlier described Mr Sipila's policies as unfair, and said taxes needed to be raised to combat inequality. | Mr Rinne earlier described Mr Sipila's policies as unfair, and said taxes needed to be raised to combat inequality. |
| One of Mr Rinne's election pledges was to raise the state pension for those taking home €1,400 a month by €100, a move he said would help "more than 55,000 pensioners escape poverty". | One of Mr Rinne's election pledges was to raise the state pension for those taking home €1,400 a month by €100, a move he said would help "more than 55,000 pensioners escape poverty". |
| Balancing taxes and spending is problematic for any government, and Finland's personal income tax rate - at 51.6% - is among the highest in Europe. | Balancing taxes and spending is problematic for any government, and Finland's personal income tax rate - at 51.6% - is among the highest in Europe. |
| However, a poll commissioned by the tax authority in 2017 found that 79% of Finns questioned were happy with their taxes. | However, a poll commissioned by the tax authority in 2017 found that 79% of Finns questioned were happy with their taxes. |
| Why is Finland's welfare system an issue? | Why is Finland's welfare system an issue? |
| Like many developed nations, Finland has an ageing population that is putting financial pressure on its social welfare systems. | Like many developed nations, Finland has an ageing population that is putting financial pressure on its social welfare systems. |
| As an increasing number of people live longer in retirement, the cost of providing pension and healthcare benefits can rise. Those increased costs are paid for by taxes collected from the working-age population - who make up a smaller percentage of the population than in decades past. | |
| In 2018, those aged 65 or over made up 21.4% of Finland's population, the joint fourth highest in Europe alongside Germany - with only Portugal, Greece, and Italy having a higher proportion, according to Eurostat. | In 2018, those aged 65 or over made up 21.4% of Finland's population, the joint fourth highest in Europe alongside Germany - with only Portugal, Greece, and Italy having a higher proportion, according to Eurostat. |
| Finland's welfare system is also generous in its provisions, making it relatively expensive. Attempts at reform have plagued Finnish governments for years. | Finland's welfare system is also generous in its provisions, making it relatively expensive. Attempts at reform have plagued Finnish governments for years. |
| In February this year, caring for the nation's elderly returned to the top of the political agenda amid reports that alleged neglect in care homes may have resulted in injury or death, according to YLE. | In February this year, caring for the nation's elderly returned to the top of the political agenda amid reports that alleged neglect in care homes may have resulted in injury or death, according to YLE. |
| What are the other key issues? | What are the other key issues? |
| Immigration has become an important topic following reports of alleged sexual assaults by foreign men. As a result, support has risen for the Finns Party, which has promised to cut immigration and enforce stricter asylum rules. Other parties have also pledged to crack down on migrants who commit crime. | Immigration has become an important topic following reports of alleged sexual assaults by foreign men. As a result, support has risen for the Finns Party, which has promised to cut immigration and enforce stricter asylum rules. Other parties have also pledged to crack down on migrants who commit crime. |
| Another key issue is climate change. Following the release of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, almost all parties have vowed to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees, the New York Times reports. | Another key issue is climate change. Following the release of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, almost all parties have vowed to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees, the New York Times reports. |
| But the Finns Party has not campaigned for greater environmental controls. | But the Finns Party has not campaigned for greater environmental controls. |
| "Finland isn't capable of saving the world," Mr Halla-aho says. | "Finland isn't capable of saving the world," Mr Halla-aho says. |
| "We have already done our part." | "We have already done our part." |
| Today's result could also be felt outside Finland's borders, as the country is set to take presidency of the European Union in July. The Finns Party's success could affect EU policy making. | Today's result could also be felt outside Finland's borders, as the country is set to take presidency of the European Union in July. The Finns Party's success could affect EU policy making. |
| The party has already announced an alliance with Germany's far-right AfD, Italy's League party and the Danish People's Party for the European elections in May. | The party has already announced an alliance with Germany's far-right AfD, Italy's League party and the Danish People's Party for the European elections in May. |
| They plan to form a parliamentary group, the European Alliance for People and Nations, to challenge the power of centrist parties. | They plan to form a parliamentary group, the European Alliance for People and Nations, to challenge the power of centrist parties. |