The Finnish Municipal elections will take place on Sunday 13th June, 2021 after being rescheduled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has adverse effects on the economy of many nations. The election was originally scheduled for 18th April. The last municipal election was held in 2017. Johanna Kauppinen, a lawyer based in Vaasa shared with Diaspora Glitz Magazine why she’s running for the municipal elections.
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers ?
I am a legal counsel, working for Wärtsilä Finland Oy in Vaasa. Born and bred in Helsinki, I have lived in Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg before moving to Vaasa 15 years ago. I hold two master’s degrees, Masters of Law from University of Helsinki and LL.M. from University of Maastricht.
2. Why did you decide to pursue a career in politics?
I turned 50 two years ago and that led me to think what “I want to do when I grow up”. I decided to join municipal politics and dedicate my time and energy for the development of Vaasa. If elected to the municipal council, I will continue working as legal counsel in my current job. Being a municipal councillor is a position of trust and not a full-time occupation.
3. Why did you chose the Swedish People’s Party of Finland?
When I wanted to become more involved in local politics, the Swedish People’s Party was an easy choice. SFP stands for liberal values, human rights and equal treatment of all people whilst at the same time standing for market economy and good conditions for entrepreneurship and economic activity. Protection of the environment is also central to the party, which I appreciate.
I have voted for other parties before, and even been a member of both Kokoomus (National Coalition party) and Vihreät (the Green Party). In 2019, when I sent my membership application to the Swedish People’s Party, the party responded very well, and I was for example invited to be a board member in the local chapter. None of the other parties ever approached me or even phoned me.
4. What do you cherish most about your community?
Vaasa is a vibrant city full of students, economic activity and wonderful culture. I can have a truly international career, whilst working in a comfortable and safe city in Finland. Vaasa is a “15 minute city”, the distances are short and I can get around easily either by car or by bike. Vaasa has the potential of becoming a world class city in the peace and quiet of the countryside.
5. Help us understand the type of leader you will be by describing your three highest priorities for change in your community, in the short and long term if elected?
Integrity and justice are central for me. If elected as municipal councillor, I want to make sure that decisions are based on fair and equitable principles.
Firstly, I will make a formal proposal that the City of Vaasa introduces anonymous recruitment. We need to try it out for two years, and if the results are positive, to continue. This can be one way of making Vaasa labour market more equal and accessible.
Secondly, the connections between the city, the companies, various educational institutions and jobseekers in Vaasa must be improved. Especially international job seekers have a hard time finding their first job, whilst companies suffer from lack of qualified employees. This is an issue that not one stakeholder can solve alone, and the jobseekers themselves need stay active. I believe that attention and dialogue can improve the situation.
Lastly, already in 2016, the City of Vaasa set a target of becoming carbon neutral inside 2020’ies. I will support this development and also make sure that progress – or lack of progress – is transparently reported to the inhabitants of Vaasa.
6. What is your perspective on the best ways to collaborate with other levels of government to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for your community?
Collaboration, cocreation and dialogue are important. Municipal decision makers need to keep active dialogue on regional, national and international level in order to find out possibilities of cooperation as well as influence national policies. Vaasa needs to be vocal about both the strengths of our region as well as our needs.
7. How would you develop municipal services to better serve your community?
Key to good municipal services is healthy municipal economy. This means we need to make sure that jobs are created on local level and companies and entrepreneurs are welcome in Vaasa. We need to have as low unemployment rate as possible. More support services for job seekers will be needed. Language courses for learning Finnish and Swedish must be easily accessible.
Thirteen Ostrobothnia municipalities have formed the Ostrobothnian welfare area consortium (Pohjanmaan hyvinvointialue). From the beginning of 2022, the consortium will provide social and primary health care and special medical care in Ostrobothnia. The decision will remain in force regardless of what is decided on national level on the “sote reform”. We need to be smart about the implementation of this change, so that the level of social and health care services is increased and not decreased for the people. For example, health case services in schools need to stay closely connected to schools.
8. Any message for the voters from your community ?
First and foremost, study the candidates, study the parties and then make a decision and use your vote. Remember to vote! If you want to choose an international lawyer for an international Vaasa, then I would be honoured to receive your vote.
