Lapland unemployment heats up presidential race
Two candidates ready for second round of Finland’s presidential election.
How to tackle the high unemployment among young people in northern Finland was highlighted as a major challenge by National Coalition Party candidate Sauli Niinistö when campaigning in Oulu this week.
“I want to be a president for all of Finland. All of Finland needs to be kept inhabited,” Niinistö said to loud applause when meeting people at the pedestrian street in Oulu reports Helsingin Sanomat.
Unemployment among youth is a serious problem in Oulu and other municipalities in Lapland. “Now we need a high-level working group to prevent marginalization among children and young people,” Niinistö said.
Second candidate in the presidential race, Pekka Haavisto from the Green League is however the one that seems to get most support from the labour unions. Those unions that who are taking a stand support Haavisto, Helsingin Sanomat report in another article after the first round in the presidential election.
Head of the Service Union United PAM, Ann Selin says their support to Pekka Haavisto is based on “values and his humane view of the world.”
Pekka Haavisto visited Rovaniemi on Wednesday and gave a speech at a shopping mall that was packed to capacity with general public, reports Lapin Kansa.
A survey published by Ilta-Sanomat on Wednesday gives Niinistö a big lead over Haavisto. Niinistö gets 65% and Haavisto 35% support.
Second round of the Finnish presidential election takes place on February 5th.
