Politics

 

Parliament’s Delete Button: Transparency vs Media vs Privacy

Parliament’s Executive Director says that criticism of its practice of destroying visitor logs at the end of each day cannot be taken lightly. "It is still harming the parliament’s reputation, that has to be admitted" Pertti Rauhio tells News Now Finland. Rauhio’s…

Espoo Greenlights Official Language Status for English

Espoo City council has approved an ambitious plan to make English the third official language of the region. In a late night vote, local councilors decided by a margin of 70-4 to greenlight a sweeping future plan for the region,…

Janne Strang Editorial: President Niinistö’s Election Non-Campaign

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö plays the role of international statesman this week when he meets the Russian and US Deputy Foreign Ministers in Helsinki, where the pair are having talks to try and repair the fragile relationship between their…

Janne Strang Editorial – Social Democrats Countdown to Abdication

A new poll by state-funded broadcaster YLE shows the Social Democrats losing ground. So how long until there’s regime change at the top of one of Finland’s grand old parties? After the announcement last weekend that the Social Democrats had…

Parliament Returns: It’s The Economy, Stupid

Finland’s Members of Parliament get back to work today after the long summer recess, with a busy legislative schedule ahead. The government has the economy firmly in its sights, and hopes to see more improvement as the country eases slowly…

Death Threats, Racial Abuse & Taunts of Sexual Violence: How Much Online Hate Should Politicians Expect?

When Finland’s parliament returns for the autumn session this week, politicians will face a continued barrage of hate mail, death threats and personal attacks. While Helsinki police tells News Now Finland they don’t keep specific statistics on the number of…

New Poll: Greens Still Finland’s Second Most Popular Party

A new poll conducted by Gallup for Helsingin Sanomat newspaper shows the Green Alliance is Finland’s second most popular party. If parliamentary elections were to be held now, the Greens would get 17.5% of the vote. The most popular party is…

The Finns Party’s New Alternative

Finland’s newest parliamentary group, the New Alternative, hopes to use its position in government to push for tax reductions for low and middle income earners, according to chairman Simon Elo. New Alternative broke away from Finns Party earlier this year,…

Divorce For Green Party Leader

The wife of the Green Party Chairman Touko Aalto, Johanna Pietiläinen, wants a divorce. Pietiläinen confirmed to Ilta-Sanomat newspaper that she filed a divorce claim with the District Court last week. The couple married on 5th August 2015. They have no…

Finance Minister: Finland’s Economic Growth is Strong

Finland’s Finance Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) says the country’s economic growth continues to be strong, and predicts the government will reach its goal of wiping out sovereign debt in 2019. Orpo made the comments following the first day of his…

Latest News

Open for business – but immigrant entrepreneurs struggle during coronavirus pandemic

Business is brisk on a Saturday afternoon in Adil Al-Massi’s Tapiola barber shop. Its prime location between Ainoa shopping centre and Sokos Hotel means there’s a…

One giant leap for Nokia, as telecoms company lands lunar contract

The US space agency NASA has announced $14.1 million funding (€12 million) for Nokia to build a 4G communication network on the moon. It was…

Morning headlines: Monday 19th October 2020

Appeals Court hears Raseborg conscript deaths case The Helsinki Appeals Court begins hearing the case of three conscripts killed in a level crossing accident. The…

Hundreds of ‘Brexit Brits’ lodge Migri applications – but questions remain about the process

Hundreds of British nationals have lodged applications to change their immigration status in Finland since the Immigration Service Migri opened the process at the…

Ready for winter driving? Police offer seasonal advice for motorists

With frosty mornings back on the calendar, police are offering some seasonal safety tips for motorists as road conditions turn more wintry. Vehicle windshields need…

Finns Party politician becomes the first MP to test positive for Covid-19

Finns Party MP Tom Packalén says he’s tested positive for Covid-19 – becoming the first Member of Parliament to infected with coronavirus. Writing on his Facebook…

Justice at last for Namibian students as Joensuu racist attackers are convicted

Two foreign students from Namibia, who were the victims of a racist assault in September 2018, have finally seen their attackers convicted. A 35-year old…

Morning headlines: Friday 16th October 2020

VTT study: disposable masks can be washed and re-used A new study by scientists at the VTT Technical Research Centre found that in some circumstances…