HOW TO VOTE
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Note: Voting will end on November 22.
PROFILES OF CANDIDATES
Jani Toivola is a writer, actor and director based in Helsinki Finland. He served as an MP from 2011 to 2019. He is the first black member of the Finnish Parliament. As a politician he is known for his work on human rights, equality, inclusive education and championing the LGBTIQ-issues in the political arena. His biggest political success was passing the same-sex marriage act in 2016.
He has published three books for adults in relation to identity (Musta tulee isona valkoinen, 2016), fatherhood (Kirja tytölleni, 2018) and love ( Rakkaudesta 2021 ). This year he also published his first book for children ( Poika ja hame ). He is currently hosting his own podcast and is working in theatre.
With a mother from Finland and a father from Kenya, Jani Toivola was born and raised in Helsinki Finland. In 2002 he moved to New York, USA to study acting at the HB Acting Studio. He is a proud father of a 8-year old.
Two term Järvenpää City Councillor under the National Coalition Party, Rita Kostama who is originally from Rwanda is among the few politicians from African background who are doing well in the Finnish political terrain. The graduate from Laurea University of Applied Sciences is an entrepreneur. She owns a Book Keeping and Translation company. She bagged “The Refugee Woman of the Year 2016.”
Suldaan Said Ahmed aka Black Lion is a second term Helsinki City councillor and activist. He is a social media influencer. He is one of the organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in Finland. He is the first politician from immigrant background to be elected to the leadership of a Political party in Finland.
Fatim Diarra is the Chairperson of the city council of Helsinki and a human rights activist. She is the first person of colour to be selected as the Chairperson of the city council of Helsinki. The City Council is the main decision-making organ in the local politics of Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. The Chairperson is second in command after the mayor in the city, making her a powerful politician and a representative of the Capital city.
Fatim Diarra has been the Vice-chairperson of the Green Party of Finland and is currently working as the Chairperson of The Feminist Association Unioni, the oldest women’s rights organization in Finland. She is also a Board member of the European Women’s lobby, the largest umbrella organization of women associations in the European Union.
Her father is from Mali and her mother is from northern Finland. She is proud of her West African roots and is in contact with her family in Mali, Senegal, Canada, and France. Diarra identifies as Finnish and Malian. She believes that her multicultural background gives her a unique perspective to politics and to issues of global solidarity. She works for integrating antiracist policies in action in Helsinki.
She has studied social and public policy at the University of Jyväskylä and theology at the University of Helsinki. Formerly she has worked as an International Affairs and EU Lobbying Adviser and as a teacher. She is married and a proud big sister to many younger siblings.
She has stated that her power comes from all the people who believe in her and she feels strongly that it’s an honor and a privilege to lead a human rights organization.