Languish.org

Finland will have its presidential elections in about a month, and the candidate list has been finalized today. In Finland, the President is pretty much a figurehead concerned with image and some representation in foreign politics and diplomacy. Who would Languish choose?

Is #4 Donald Tusk's cousin?  :D

Either Rodney Dangerfield or Warren Buffet.

Second lady.

I assume the fifth guy has just been told that if he wins, his clubbing days are over :(

Also - question. How is power split in Finland?

Niinisto seemed fairly important/influential in Finland's foreign policy direction since the Russian invasion, but I know Finland's one of the countries that, say, at EUCO meetings is represented by the PM/head of government (I think the only President/head of states are France, Cyprus and Lithuania). How is it divvied up or was it a little because of specific circumstances since the Russian invasion?

Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2023, 07:44:10 AMAlso - question. How is power split in Finland?

Niinisto seemed fairly important/influential in Finland's foreign policy direction since the Russian invasion, but I know Finland's one of the countries that, say, at EUCO meetings is represented by the PM/head of government (I think the only President/head of states are France, Cyprus and Lithuania). How is it divvied up or was it a little because of specific circumstances since the Russian invasion?

Foreign relations is about the only thing where the President still has some kind of influence. Officially, they are managed together by the President and the Foreign Ministry. The ministry handles the general policy and the President acts as a representative (and yes, there has been some tension about whether the President or the PM should be doing that). Other than that, the President is considered a "values leader", giving grand speeches about the direction of the country and current situation.

It's changed quite a lot over the years, as the original system in Finland gave the President very wide powers (legacy of the monarchists who had to be convinced to support the republic). But now most of those powers have been taken away.

Quote from: Solmyr on December 20, 2023, 07:58:02 AMForeign relations is about the only thing where the President still has some kind of influence. Officially, they are managed together by the President and the Foreign Ministry. The ministry handles the general policy and the President acts as a representative (and yes, there has been some tension about whether the President or the PM should be doing that). Other than that, the President is considered a "values leader", giving grand speeches about the direction of the country and current situation.

It's changed quite a lot over the years, as the original system in Finland gave the President very wide powers (legacy of the monarchists who had to be convinced to support the republic). But now most of those powers have been taken away.

Interesting - thanks, sounds like a bit of a hybrid system.

Presumably the powers also reflect Kekkonen's unique skills and position :lol: :ph34r:

Standards for Finnish politicians have diminished.  :(

The glory days are over  :(

Dude with the Ukraine/Finland lapel pin.

My interest in Finnish politics reduced a lot when the the hot PM left.

Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2023, 02:53:00 PMDude with the Ukraine/Finland lapel pin.

You fell for the Russian plant :ph34r:

I voted for Rodney Dangerfield.

Languishites voting for women. Some things never change. :D

Quote from: Solmyr on December 20, 2023, 05:52:03 PMLanguishites voting for women. Some things never change. :D

In a sea of eminently punchable faces, the librarian stands out as the best choice.

Quote from: Solmyr on December 20, 2023, 05:52:03 PMLanguishites voting for women. Some things never change. :D

We're all overly submissive males who grovel before powerful women.  :blush:

We are cucks!

Quote from: Tonitrus on December 20, 2023, 06:13:52 PMWe're all overly submissive males who grovel before powerful women.  :blush:

Based on the Conservative Party, that approach to picking leaders has a mixed record at best :(

Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2023, 09:10:30 PM

Quote from: Tonitrus on December 20, 2023, 06:13:52 PMWe're all overly submissive males who grovel before powerful women.  :blush:

Based on the Conservative Party, that approach to picking leaders has a mixed record at best :(

Alas, the Labour party has never seen fit to even try that approach for a valid comparison.  :(

Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2023, 02:53:00 PMDude with the Ukraine/Finland lapel pin.

Didn't notice it, because he reminded me too much of Friedrich Merz. :x

(https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vTCF9Uz30FrV6FWfraZNcA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTQxNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en-GB/reuters.com/df8cae153963bb73bdaba37393130c19)

Voted for big teeth guy. Probably a neolibertarian guy who wants to privatize the entire country and turn it into a hypercapitalist technostate, but at least he seems to have fun. :)

Post voting google lens search says I voted for... Li Andersson. Looking her up, I am quite content with my pick!  :)

Quote from: Tonitrus on December 20, 2023, 11:36:22 PMAlas, the Labour party has never seen fit to even try that approach for a valid comparison.  :(

Sadly, they are a distinctly more vanilla bunch.

Quote from: Syt on December 21, 2023, 01:37:30 AM

Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2023, 02:53:00 PMDude with the Ukraine/Finland lapel pin.

Didn't notice it, because he reminded me too much of Friedrich Merz. :x

(https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vTCF9Uz30FrV6FWfraZNcA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTQxNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en-GB/reuters.com/df8cae153963bb73bdaba37393130c19)

:x

Quote from: Syt on December 21, 2023, 01:38:50 AMVoted for big teeth guy. Probably a neolibertarian guy who wants to privatize the entire country and turn it into a hypercapitalist technostate, but at least he seems to have fun. :)

I think he was bitten by a radioactive beaver and gained all the powers of a beaver.  At first he'll use his powers for good and provide shelter to all who need it; but, in time, his appetite for wood will become insatiable and he'll go on a rampage throughout northern Europe.  The Finnish army will prove no match for him but, after their defeat, the wise scribes at the Hudson Bay Company will stumble across an ancient scroll that describes an identical situation they faced somewhere in their long and storied history.  Realizing the giant mutant beaver-man's weakness they immediately dispatch the prestigious Hudson Bay Company Black Ops division who will neutralize the threat and bring peace once again through northern Europe; but has destroying the giant mutant beaver-man turned us into the very thing we sought to vanquish?

So he's clearly the best choice.  I really don't think Tori Amos would make a good PM, and I can't understand why so many people are voting for her.

So the first round is nearly done and it looks like Alexander Stubb (National Coalition) and Pekka Haavisto (Greens) are going to compete in the second round. Jussi Halla-aho (The Finns) got left well behind in third place. Both leading candidates are EU-minded liberals and are actually fairly close to each other on policy. So the nationalists and conservatives lost this election. :showoff:

Here are the election results in English: https://yle.fi/a/74-20071743

Languish would apparently vote in the very left-wing woman as president. :lol:

I really expected her to be the far right candidate.

Quote from: Grey Fox on January 29, 2024, 08:54:21 AMI really expected her to be the far right candidate.

The guy with the Ukrainian/Finnish flag pin is the far right candidate.

(https://images.cdn.yle.fi/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,dpr_3,w_320,c_fill,ar_16:9,d_yle-areena.jpg/v1687183355/39-113220464905f20a9aa5.jpg)

And now we have our next President, Alexander Stubb, the man with the teeth. Incidentally, he is our first Swedish-speaking President since Mannerheim.

The second round was quite tight with only about 3% difference between Stubb and Haavisto.

Liberals - <_<
Swedish speaking -  :cool:

The good one isn't coming back? :(
Well, there are 3 political parties in need of leadership in Canada.  Also at least 3 in Quebec...
Just sayin'.  We could use someone who listens to good music, for once.


Going to pick the 1st one.  He looks like a Russian spy from a James Bond movie.