Municipal and county elections will be held on 13 April 2025 in Finland. Although the election date is the same, the nature of the elections is different.
In Finland, public sector workers are significantly over-represented in elections. Although fewer than one in three Finns work in the public sector, surveys based on random sampling indicate that more than 70% of members of parliament and municipal councils come from public sector backgrounds. In regional councils focusing on social services, the figure exceeds 90%. As a result, public sector workers essentially control regional councils.
In mainland Finland, 308 municipalities elect around 8,500 councillors from over 30,000 candidates, ranging from 13 councillors in the smallest municipalities to 85 in the largest, Helsinki. For companies that focus on public affairs programs, it’s important to recognize the unique aspects of municipal politics. For many candidates, municipal elections often serve as a steppingstone to parliamentary elections. Additionally, almost all prominent politicians are members of their local councils.
Specific features of municipal decision-making
Unlike in Parliament, municipal councils do not have a government-opposition dynamic. Decision-making in these councils tends to cross party lines and is more flexible than in national politics, where the government program restricts the actions of governing party representatives.
In municipalities, the council is formally the highest decision-making body. However, before an issue reaches the council for a vote, it must first pass through the municipal board, which largely determines which matters are brought to the council chamber. Another key player is the council group of each party, where party policies are formed. As a result, a skilled group leader is often a pivotal figure in the decision-making process.
A distinctive feature of municipal politics is the prominent role of committees. While Parliament also has committees, their decisions must go to the plenary session for approval. In contrast, decisions made by municipal committees are final. This makes committee members more influential in lobbying than members of Parliament, as the latter often adhere to party discipline, regardless of their personal views. The role of committee rapporteurs is especially important, as their choice of wording for presentation notes can be crucial to the outcome of a decision. In large municipalities, civil servants play a decisive role, particularly in implementing decisions and shaping how they are carried out.
Election funding
When discussing elections, we must also address the role of money. Although many candidates operate with modest budgets, fundraising still plays a crucial part. Candidates who are serious about raising funds are often the ones who are genuinely committed to the election.
A company approached by a candidate should carefully consider how to respond to fundraising requests. Simply saying, “We’ve decided not to support anyone” is a poor response. This suggests that the company views politics as so corrupt that it wants to avoid involvement. However, such a stance may lead to less favorable treatment when the company later needs support—such as for a zoning application.
The hesitation to engage in election funding is likely driven by the fear of being stigmatized, but this concern is often unwarranted. In Finland, for instance, the Left Alliance and the National Coalition Party have been part of the same government. In municipal politics, party lines are even more flexible, with issues often taking precedence over political ideologies.
A smarter approach to election funding is to donate to two local organizations from different political backgrounds. For example, if a Green Party candidate seeks funding and the company responds that this time, it has donated to both the local Social Democratic and Coalition Party organizations, it avoids the risk of being labeled as a partisan entity. The candidate who doesn’t receive funding will understand that the company is supporting the democratic system itself. This approach allows the company to avoid having to evaluate individual candidates and respond in the same way to all of them.
In Finland, nearly half of every euro flows through the public sector. A savvy company recognizes that it’s better to contribute to the system rather than reject it, as it impacts us all. Election funding is a form of freedom of choice; the alternative would be for the state to fully manage elections, which would likely be much harder for companies to navigate than the current demands for election money.