Equality and transparency of Finnish elections interest representatives of African countries

“The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has invited representatives of Southern and Eastern African countries to observe the Finnish parliamentary election so that they would have the opportunity to become acquainted with the Finnish political system and how elections are carried out,” said Deputy Director General Aapo Pölhö of the Department for Africa and the Middle East at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs when introducing the African guests at a press conference held in Helsinki on Monday, 12 March.

The last time a similar visit was made was in connection with the parliamentary election of 2003, and it spurred much positive feedback.

The equality characterising the Finnish political system received the visitors’ special thanks. It was hoped that the equality realised in Finland would encourage other countries to follow suit as, for example, in Africa at the moment there is only one female president. The visitors also praised the transparency of the Finnish political system.

A particular point of interest in the Finnish electoral system was the possibility that citizens living outside the country have to vote in advance, the electoral alliances and the stability of the electoral system. The peacefulness of campaigning was also commended.

The visitors’ programme concentrates on the Finnish political system, the functioning and tasks of the Finnish Parliament, the programmes of the political parties, and the role of the press and civil society. The programme includes visits to various events that will enable the visitors to observe election campaigning in practice.

The visitors represent their countries’ political parties and central electoral boards. They come from Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Their visit began on 11 March and will end after the parliamentary election.