![Three Finnish flags flying on poles. [Image via LTapsaH - Pixabay]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/4/19/660x290/b_502x220x82/three-finnish-flags-flying-on-poles-image-via-ltapsah-pixabay_2251127.jpg "Three Finnish flags flying on poles. [Image via LTapsaH - Pixabay]")
Voters in Finland have recently taken to the polls. The results have proved to be exceptionally close.
The top three parties all finished with one percent of each other. As such, they have all won an almost identical number of seats in the Eduskunta, Finland's parliament.
Far-left, far-right, center-right parties win big
The Social Democratic, Finns and National Coalition parties combined to receive roughly 52% percent of votes cast. The SDP is led by Antti Rinne. Rinne was previously minister of finance and deputy prime minister under Prime Ministers Jyrki Katainen and Alexander Stubb.
Bother Katainen and Stubb were members of the National Coalition Party, which promotes a moderate-to-conservative platform. The party is now led by Petteri Orpo, the current minister of finance and deputy prime minister.
The Finns Party has been polarizing in Finland, with its populist and nationalistic platform. In addition, its leader, Jussi Hallah-aho, has a checkered reputation.
In a close fourth place was the Centre Party, led by incumbent Prime Minister Juha Sipila. A number of other parties also won seats in parliament. Two of which featured something of a celebrity flare in their leadership, a trend that has appeared elsewhere. The Christian Democrats are led by Sari Essayah, a former two-time Olympian and world champion race walker.
Additionally, there is the presence of Hjallis Harkimo. Harkimo is a high-profile business figure and former host of the Finnish version of "The Apprentice". Originally, he was elected as a member of the National Coalition Party. He has since formed his own party, Movement Now, and was re-elected as its only member of parliament.
None of three parties that received the biggest share of the vote earned anywhere near a majority. As such, negotiations have begun to form a coalition government. Reuters reports that a union between the SDP and the National Coalition is the most likely outcome. Both parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the Finns.
Healthcare and climate change were key issues
Healthcare reform was arguably the biggest issue. Almost entirely publicly-funded, the Finnish system is largely regarded as one of the worst in the world. Earlier this year, it was noted in America because of comments from Independent Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Sanders, perhaps unaware of the disastrous state of the Finnish system, bizarrely held it up as an example for Americans to strive for.
Long-running tensions surrounding the health system might be coming to a head. Sauli Niinisto, the highly popular Finnish president, has called on reform of the program. Ambitious attempts were made by the outgoing government to achieve this goal but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Climate change was also a central matter. Roughly one-third of Finland is located over the Arctic Circle. The country's residents are especially vulnerable to the planet's rising temperatures. As such, many steps have been taken to counter Finland's carbon footprint.
The CBC reports that lawmakers recently voted to eliminate coal as a source of energy by 2029. Some, however, have felt that policies like this are reaching too far and are detrimental to the economy.
