The rescheduled Finnish municipal elections will take place on Sunday June 13 with advance voting beginning from 26 May to 8 June. Voters from abroad will have the opportunity to cast their votes between 2 and 5 June. In the elections, local councillors and deputy councillors will be elected for the next four-year term. The term of office of the local councils will begin on 1 August 2021 and last until 31 May 2025. According to the Finnish population information system, the total number of eligible voters is 4,464,814.
In 2021, statistics has shown that there are a lot of candidates from immigrant backgrounds running for the muncipal elections when compared to the number of candidates that contested in 2017. More people are eager to effect change in their municipality, they want their voices heard and make meaningful impact.
Felix Adje
Photo from Facebook
Moniheli ry, an umbrella body of all the multicultural associations in Finland is in the forefront of changing the narratives that has beclouded the immigrant community as it concerns politics in Finland. The collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and it’s Ethnic Relations (Etno) board has seen a sharp rise in the number of local election panels aimed at raising awareness and motivating people of foreign backgrounds who have the right to vote to do so.
Voter apathy is one of the major challenges of the immigrant community, that’s why the over 400,000 foreigners living in Finland which accounts for about 7.3 percent only a handful of them exercises their voting right.
During last week election panel organized in Vantaa by Diaspora Reporters ry, one of the panelists, Felix Adje stated that the reason why he is running for the election is because he wants to be the voice of the people with disabilities in Finland. People with disabilities are among the vulnerable groups in society. Finnish law states that a disabled person must not be discriminated against because of his or her disability. A disabled person has the right to live a normal life, for example, to study, work and start a family. Finland is also committed to the UN treaty on the rights of persons with disabilities. Felix wants to defend the rights of persons with disabilities.
Felix Adje
Photo from Facebook
Felix joined the Christian Democrats because the party represents his belief system. He is the son of a pastor from the Republic of Benin. He believes strongly that Christian values help to establish integrity to man and women who live by Christian principles.
Recall that Felix Adje has been living in Finland for over ten years. President of the Benin Community in Finland from 2010 to 2020. Children music teacher for Pusula Church. He was working as an Agriculture specialist in Keuda Mantsala and unfortunately in 2018 he lost his leg which could have sent him into hibernation but he rose and continues to be a motivator not only to his peers but to the disabled community in Finland. He now uses his disability to motivate and inspire others. He was featured at the Global Dignity Finland as a speaker, felix has remained a member of Kaveri special, also a member of Tapiola Honka basketball club.
