An election official stamped a voting slip on the last day of advance voting in Vantaa on Tuesday, 28 March 2023. Finns took advantage of the advance voting period in record-high numbers, casting a total of 1,709,119 votes, according to data from the Ministry of Justice. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

FINNS took advantage of the newly concluded advance voting period in record-high numbers.

Data from the Ministry of Justice indicate that a total of 1,719,424 votes were cast during the seven-day advance voting period that ended at 8pm on Tuesday, 28 March. The number translates to a voter turnout of 40.2 per cent, an increase of roughly four percentage points from the closing of advance voting before the 2019 parliamentary elections.

Maintenance fees for apartment buildings are increasing rapidly in Finland, according to a survey conducted by the Finnish Real Estate Federation. The survey revealed that more than 20% of housing companies are threatened by the increase in maintenance costs, with just over 2% facing significant risk. Although the majority of housing companies believe their financial situation is stable, the cost of living varies significantly from municipality to municipality.

LEHTIKUVA

According to the 'Digital 2023 Finland' research report by media monitoring software company Meltwater and We Are Social, nearly 98 percent of Finns use the internet, and over 83 percent use social media channels. The speeds of mobile connections have grown by almost 34 percent over the last year, and fixed connection speeds have increased by almost 10 percent.

The report shows that Finland continues to be at the forefront of digital development compared to many other countries

Strike picketers in the terminal of Viking Line in Helsinki on 17 March 2023. A third strike by cleaning and property maintenance professionals was averted by a last-minute deal late on Wednesday between Service Union United (PAM) and Real Estate Employer. (Antti Hämäläinen – Lehtikuva)

SERVICE UNION UNITED (PAM) and Real Estate Employers reached an agreement late yesterday evening in their dispute over the terms and conditions of employment for cleaning and property maintenance professionals in Finland.

The breakthrough in what were described as difficult negotiations signals the cancellation of a two-day, 27,000-employee strike that was to take place between Thursday and Friday.

A woman receiving a booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine. LEHTIKUVA

Finnish people are more receptive to health information that is based on statistical data than information that relies on the experiences of others, according to a recent study. However, neither approach reduced vaccine hesitancy. Researchers emphasized the importance of tailoring health communication to be more effective when the target audience disagrees with the information given and does not trust the sources.

An overhead view of the session hall in the National Assembly of Hungary on Monday, 27 March 2023. Hungarian lawmakers yesterday voted 182 for and 6 against ratifying the Finnish accession protocol to Nato, leaving Turkey as the lone holdout in what is already a 10-month process. (Attila Kisbenedek – AFP / Lehtikuva)

THE HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT on Monday approved the Finnish application to join Nato by a vote of 182 in favour and 6 against.

Helsingin Sanomat on Monday reported that all the ratification was opposed only by members of Our Homeland Movement, a far-right opposition party that believes expanding the defence alliance would geographically escalate Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.

Flag banners outside a campaign event of the National Coalition in Helsinki on 15 March 2023. The right-wing opposition party has been the most vocal advocate of fiscal adjustment in the next electoral term. (Antti Hämäläinen – Lehtikuva)

PUBLIC DEBT has kindled concerns among Finns.

YLE reported a week ago that public debt has become almost as big a cause of concern among the public as the climate crisis, citing a survey that drew responses from 2,012 Finns in January. The State Youth Council, meanwhile, has revealed that over half of 18–29-year-olds believe public debt should be reined in without delay irrespective of the kind of benefit and welfare cuts it would necessitate.

Blocks of flats in Kaarela, Helsinki, on 28 March 2023. The prices of old dwellings in housing companies fell particularly sharply in February in Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo, according to preliminary data from Statistics Finland. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

HOUSE PRICES in Finland continued to fall sharply in February, according to preliminary data published by Statistics Finland.

The data reveal that the prices of old dwellings in housing companies decreased by 5.2 per cent year-on-year, driven particularly by drops in Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo. The prices fell by 6.1 per cent in the capital region and by 5.5 per cent in the six largest cities, but by 4.4 per cent outside the six largest cities.

Chairpersons Riikka Purra of the Finns Party, Sanna Marin of the Social Democrats and Petteri Orpo of the National Coalition attended an election debate organised by Helsingin Sanomat in Helsinki on Tuesday, 28 March 2023. The three parties are within 0.6 percentage points of one another, according to the latest opinion poll by the daily newspaper. (Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva)

PUBLIC SUPPORT for the National Coalition has continued to decrease, indicates the latest opinion poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat.

Support for the right-wing opposition party stands at 19.8 per cent with less than a week to go until the parliamentary elections, representing a drop of one percentage point from the poll published by the newspaper last week.

LEHTIKUVA

As Western countries face a growing nursing shortage over the next decade, they will have to compete for healthcare professionals to fill the gap. The winners and losers in this race will depend on how well they attract and retain international healthcare workers.

Finland, like other Western countries, will likely have to compete for healthcare professionals from countries like the Philippines, India, and some African nations.