Opposition Finns Party chair Timo Soini announced on Monday that he will not run for the European Parliament next spring.
In a blog posting, Soini said he will instead run for re-election to the Finnish Parliament in 2015 – when he will be aiming for a key post in government, possibly even the prime minister’s office. His populist, immigration-sceptic party is the third-largest bloc in the 200-seat national legislature now, with 38 seats.
Finland’s European Parliament elections are scheduled for May 25, the same day as other states including Sweden, Belgium, Portugal and Romania.
In the past the Euro-Parliament vote has been held here in June. This year it will be held in all EU states between May 22 and 25 in a move toward closer integration. This time voters will also have a chance to – indirectly – elect the next European Commission President. He or she is to be named in July.
Voters in Finland will elect 13 MEPs to serve in the 751-seat legislature. Eleven of the Finns now in the parliament are running for re-election. They represent seven of the eight parties in the national legislature. Only the Left Alliance lacks a representative in Strasbourg.
Citizens of other EU states living in Finland have the right to vote in the election here so long as they are on the voting register. Information on how to join the register can be found at the Ministry of Justice elections website.
