Dear reader,
Freedom is the most precious thing we have. This has especially been driven home to us after Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, it is a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted. Democracy, human rights and the rule of law must be protected every day. Ultimately it comes down to you and me – all of us who live in this fine land – being able to feel safe in our daily lives and enjoying good health today, tomorrow and in the future.
The world is changing. Superpowers are competing for supremacy. There are authoritarian nations in which democracy is a curse word, which want to attack us here in the West. They are working to splinter us and to weaken the EU. We shall not let that happen. The world order has been permanently redrawn in terms of security policy. It is important to keep the right company.
Finland has many strengths: we are known for our reliability, stable institutions, equality and good schools. But we can do better. We are burdened by rising debt and a labour shortage. For the SFP the roadmap is clear: we must build on our strengths and create solutions for tackling our weaknesses.
As a liberal, centre-right party, SFP works across the board to achieve a stable, modern Finland that defends the freedom of the individual and every person’s equal value. We say no to hate speech and racism. We will never promote division and polarisation. We want to build society through participation and dialogue.
Parliamentary elections will be held in Finland on 2 April 2023. The elections will play a huge role in determining the direction our country will take in the next four years. The Covid pandemic left marks, not only financially, but also in our health and wellbeing.
Our children and our elderly need special attention now. We want you to rely on a health care system that works when you need it, and to enjoy wellbeing at work. Our companies need an incentivising environment in which they can operate and grow. It should always be more profitable to work than to not. We must strengthen Finland’s competitiveness in order to attract further investment and, thereby, jobs. The climate crisis must be taken very seriously. Solutions are needed nationally as well as globally.
We want our children and grandchildren to swim in a clean Baltic Sea. Moving forward we should also be able to eat clean, Finnish food produced by our farmers. The green transition is a huge opportunity for us. Investments into education, research and innovation are therefore also key.
I am so thankful to live in this fine land where we can all take part in decision-making. To vote is to have an influence. And your vote counts. During the current parliamentary term, SFP has demonstrated that we are needed in the Finnish government. We have worked constructively and built bridges. We have achieved results. Finland is now on its way into NATO, something we have pushed for. Our contacts with Sweden and the rest of the Nordic region, as well as with the international arena in general, are valuable for our country.
A vote for SFP is a vote for security and stability in restless times. A vote for equality, care and economic growth. A vote for the right to be served in one’s mother tongue and for a bilingual Finland! Your voice is needed!
Anna-Maja Henriksson
Party President
