Finland to some may have felt in recent years like a constant series of elections. Just in 2024, there were both the EU Elections to decide our Members of the European Parliament, and before them the Presidential Election, in which Alexander Stubb became Finland’s latest president. In 2023, the Parliamentary Elections put into power again a coalition with the National Coalition Party at its head, this time with the Finns Party at their shoulder.
Through these, citizens have voted for a variety of reasons. Whether it was because of general values, an important issue, a certain person or long-held loyalty, voting has taken place. Democracy has been upheld.
Except perhaps in the EU Elections, one group has not been able to vote in any of these. This group, which now includes thousands of TEK members, are those without Finnish citizenship. They have not had their chance to vote, or in a way, their chance to take part in democracy, no matter how the result may affect them.
This is not the case on the 13th April, when the Municipal and County Elections will be held. In these, for those from the EU, the same rules apply as for Finnish citizens. For those from outside the EU, just two years in Finland is in general needed in order to vote.
As an ever-growing group, in both number and importance, it is vital for Finland that non-citizens do vote. To do so, information is not just needed on how to, but on why to.
TEK has its goals in these elections, designed to be for the benefit for all our members. We want an education system that better develops STEM skills, and cities whose procurement allows for innovation through opportunity. We want technology and AI to be better utilised to streamline public services, and for municipalities to continue to be a part of Finland 2035 carbon neutrality target. We want adequate and high-quality student housing, helping students focus on lives and studies, rather than finances or living conditions.
Finally, we want cities to grasp with both hands their new role as employment and integration service providers. It is critical that these services are suiting our highly educated members, in particular international members under the added pressures government policies place on them.
Many reading this will be in that group without Finnish citizenship. Whether you vote for the reasons that TEK pushes for, or for something else entirely, we urge you to vote.
To take your rightful place in Finland’s democratic future.
