Finns Party leader Riikka Purra spoke at the conclusion of the municipal and regional election night event in Helsinki on 13 April 2025. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva
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Riikka Purra, the leader of the Finns Party and Finland’s finance minister, confirmed on Saturday that she will seek re-election at the party’s June congress. Her announcement comes as the party faces a significant drop in support.
Also standing for re-election are Party Secretary Harri Vuorenpää and Second Deputy Chair Mauri Peltokangas. First Deputy Chair Leena Meri was absent from the announcement.
Third Deputy Chair and MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen has not yet confirmed whether he will run again.
Speaking at a press conference in Helsinki, Purra said the decline in popularity was linked to the challenges of governing. “Defending government policy is harder than being in opposition,” she said.
Recent polls show the party’s support falling to 11.4 percent, down from 20.1 percent at the last parliamentary election. The party also underperformed in April’s local elections. Vuorenpää acknowledged the downturn and said the party was taking it seriously.
Tynkkynen called for more effective messaging. “We need to be better able to explain to our own people what we are doing,” he said. He added that clearer communication would be crucial to reversing the trend.
Purra rejected the idea that the party should change direction, stating there would be no “sudden shifts.” Instead, she said the focus would be on internal strategy and improving how the party communicates its achievements, particularly in areas such as immigration policy.
“The strategies that the party leadership is thinking about are not things that we share with the media,” she said. She added that while her role as finance minister brings media visibility, the party’s key policies often receive less attention.
Both Purra and Tynkkynen criticised the media for failing to convey the party’s positions. “It’s a question of survival for our party,” said Tynkkynen. “It’s difficult to get the message through the media.”
Purra described the situation as a “kokonaisuus,” a combination of factors, including public reaction to government policies and insufficient communication.
The Finns Party’s council, which includes regional chairs and other key figures, also met on Saturday in Helsinki. The gathering came at a critical moment, with leadership reviewing the party’s strategy amid declining numbers.
MP Teemu Keskisarja has announced his candidacy for First Deputy Chair, challenging the current leadership structure as the party reassesses its position ahead of the next electoral cycle.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
