The incumbent Greens chair Sofia Virta was re-elected for another term at the Greens’ party conference in Hämeenlinna on 7 June 2025. Photo: Roni Rekomaa / Lehtikuva
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Sofia Virta has been re-elected as chair of Finland’s opposition Green Party, securing her second term unopposed during the party conference held in Hämeenlinna.
In her policy speech on Saturday, Virta criticised the government’s economic direction, calling recent budget cuts harmful to Finland’s social framework. She said the cuts undermined the foundations of the welfare state.
“Of course, debt must be brought under control,” she said, “but not at the expense of social security, education or environmental protection.”
Virta, 34, has led the Greens since 2023. She told delegates her long-term aim is to return the party to government after the 2027 parliamentary elections and reclaim the seven seats lost in 2023.
She ruled out forming any future coalition government with the Finns Party, citing irreconcilable differences over equality and human rights. “There are no compromises on issues such as the treatment of people, equality and women’s rights,” she said in an interview with Iltalehti.
The Greens currently hold 13 seats in the 200-member Parliament, ranking fifth. The latest Yle poll places the party’s support at 8.7 percent, up 0.8 percentage points.
In her address, Virta promoted a vision of Finland as an internationally minded, liberal country committed to environmental leadership. She urged stronger climate and biodiversity action, calling for Finland to become both carbon-negative and nature-positive. “We choose ambition, researched knowledge, and the will to fight the climate crisis,” she said.
She proposed cutting environmentally harmful corporate subsidies, and increasing investment in education to support long-term economic and social resilience.
On labour issues, she warned that government reforms were creating instability in the labour market. She called for balance, saying that both employers and employees benefit from predictability and trust.
Vice-chairs and other party officials were scheduled to be selected later in the day. Party Secretary Anna Moring is running unopposed for another term.
Under Virta’s leadership, the Greens gained support in this year’s regional elections but lost ground in the municipal vote. In both races, the party faced growing competition from the Left Alliance, now polling slightly ahead.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
