PES

I used to admire Finland for its originality, its spark, its way of doing things differently. Finland was the country where people, sitting in their saunas, asked “Is this really the best way of doing things? Maybe we can do better.” They developed one of the most successful social models in the world. They developed the world’s best education system. They developed economic niches in which they became world leaders (just think of Nokia).

So why is the liberal Finnish Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen, just copying the inaction of conservative leaders such as Merkel and Sarkozy when it comes to fighting the worst economic crisis for generations? As the Chair of the Finnish Social Democratic Party (SDP), Jutta Urpilianen, has said, the tax cuts that he has enacted are just not enough. According to current estimates, by next year 250,000 people will be unemployed in Finland. That’s 250,00 reasons to be developing an innovative, green and ambitious recovery strategy. Jutta understands that well: she has already called for an additional 200 million euros to be invested in boosting employment.

Indeed, at the European level we are on track towards 27 million unemployed by next year. In the US the Obama administration has just launched the latest phase in its bold recovery plan. My question is: why is the second-largest economy leading global recovery efforts whilst the conservative-led EU, the world’s largest economy, complacently says it has “done enough”? Try telling that to the 27 million out-of-work.

Like Europe as a whole, Finland needs a new progressive direction to revive and renew its great social democratic model in all its originality, and a leader who follows in the footsteps of that radical Prime Minister and father of the Finnish welfare state Kalevia Sorsa. Jutta Urpilianen does just that, and the Social Democratic Party represents this wonderful country at its unique best.

That’s why it’s important that Finns vote social democrat in European and national elections to come; so that Finland once again can show the way rather than copy inadequate examples from elsewhere.

Today I am in Helsinki campaigning with Jutta for a progressive majority for the next European Parliament. And my message to Finland is: it’s time to go back to the sauna for a rethink. Be yourself: vote SDP.