Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week:
Finland’s left is battling the far right
Finland’s Left Alliance challenging the rise of right-wing austerity policies and the growing influence of the far right in Finnish politics, was covered in an article by Jacobin on February 3.
The article explores how the Left Alliance and it’s former leader Li Andersson are working to offer a compelling alternative, combining environmental priorities, robust workers’ rights, and progressive economic policies.
Andersson recently organized the Käänne Festival to bring together left-wing voices after the Left Alliance’s success in the European Parliament elections. The article highlights Andersson’s leadership style as modern and pragmatic, emphasizing coalition-building and policy-driven activism.
The current right-wing government, which includes the far-right Finns Party, has imposed austerity measures that have led to economic stagnation and increased social inequality. Andersson argues that these policies have failed, as they have not reduced public debt but have instead led to low growth and high unemployment. She views austerity as the primary driver of political disillusionment, which has fueled the rise of the far right.
“The argument of the Right is that we have to live within our means; we can’t take on more debt. But, of course, they have not succeeded in lowering the debt ratio because austerity has led to low growth and high unemployment,” Andersson said.
Andersson and the Left Alliance promote a “red-green” political approach that integrates environmental priorities with economic justice. The party advocates for strong labor protections, the reinstatement of the right to strike, a real minimum wage, and increased worker representation in companies. It also focuses on climate policies, emphasizing the need for redistributive measures to ensure environmental policies do not disproportionately impact lower-income groups.
Original story was published by Jacobin on 03.02.2025 and can be found here.
Researchers find microplastics for the first time in the Finnish Sámi waters
The presence of microplastics in Finnish Sámi waters was covered in an article by Mongabay on February 4. The article highlights how the microplastics were detected in the Sámi waters for the first time.
The article is based on a study conducted by researchers, working in collaboration with Indigenous Skolt Sámi knowledge holders over three years. It found that although the concentration of microplastics was relatively small, it was still higher than expected in what is considered a pristine environment.
Research on microplastics in these waters kicked off because of the observations Sámi women made of the waters they traditionally use. “The water no longer smelled and tasted like before. We would feel a mild burning sensation in our throats when we consumed it, but the water still looked clean,” said Tero Mustonen, one of the study authors and a researcher at Snowchange Cooperative.
The microplastics, averaging 100 micrometers in size, were found in the freshwater bodies of the Näätämö River catchment and Lake Inari, as well as in the Neiden Fjord, which is connected to the Barents Sea. Concentrations ranged from 45 to 423 microplastic particles per cubic meter, with lower concentrations in the fjord compared to the river and lake. The most common plastic types detected were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate.
The exact source of these microplastics remains unknown, but researchers propose that transboundary pollution could be a factor. Researchers believe the current concentrations are unlikely to pose immediate health risks to humans. However, they remain uncertain about the potential long-term effects on the ecosystem, particularly on species at the bottom of the food chain.
Original story was published by Mongabay on 04.02.2025 and can be found here.
Finland offers more perks to stop its declining birth rate. Women shrug it off
Finland’s social welfare measures for parents in a bid to reverse the declining birth rate were covered in an article by PassBlue on January 27. The analysis piece looks into the reasons for the trend of declining birth rates in Finland, despite the increasing incentives.
Despite Finland’s generous policies—such as extended parental leave, subsidized daycare, and free education—the country’s birth rate has fallen to a historic low of 1.32 children per woman (2022), well below the replacement rate of 2.1. While some municipalities provide “baby bonuses,” results have been mixed, with some areas discontinuing their programs due to lack of impact.
Experts cite shifting societal values as a key reason for this decline. Many Finnish women are choosing to delay or forgo motherhood in favor of career advancement and higher education. Additionally, a growing number of people live alone, and finding a like-minded partner has become more difficult due to increasing political and ideological divides between genders. Simultaneously, an increasing number of Finns, particularly young people, identify as voluntarily child-free, citing personal freedom and environmental concerns.
Immigration has been promoted as a partial solution, with Finland seeing a net gain of 58,000 immigrants in 2023. However, challenges such as language barriers and cultural differences make it difficult to fully integrate newcomers into the workforce.
The cultural shift away from prioritizing family life has sparked political debates, with right-wing populists pushing for pro-natalist policies. Some lawmakers have even advocated for “synnytystalkoot,” a collective effort to encourage childbirth, but such measures have been met with resistance from those who reject the idea of societal pressure to have children.
Original story was published by PassBlue on 27.01.2025 and can be found here.
XPeng expands to Ireland and Finland as European push continues
The expansion of XPeng, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, in the Irish and Finnish markets, was covered in an article by EV on January 31. The article follows XPeng’s milestone of delivering its 10,000th vehicle in Europe, making it the first Chinese EV startup to achieve this figure in the region.
In Finland, XPeng is collaborating with Inchcape Motors Finland to sell the G6 and G9 models. The G6 starts at €48,290, with a Launch Edition priced at €45,790. Meanwhile, the G9 model starts at €62,900, with a Launch Edition at €75,900. Deliveries in Finland are expected to begin in late February, and XPeng plans to open showrooms in Helsinki and Espoo.
In Ireland, XPeng has partnered with Dublin-based Motor Services Limited (MSL) to retail its vehicles. The G6 Coupe SUV is now available at MSL’s Deansgrange dealership, with the standard-range rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model offering 435 km of WLTP range at a starting price of €42,000. The long-range version, which extends the range to 580 km, is priced at €49,440.
XPeng’s expansion comes amid strong global sales growth. In 2024, the company delivered 190,068 vehicles worldwide, marking a 34% increase from the previous year. In 2024, XPeng entered markets such as France, Spain, Portugal, Egypt, Hong Kong, and Germany.
Original story was published by EV on 31.01.2025 and can be found here.
HT
