Municipal and Welfare County Elections 2025

I am running in the municipal elections because I want to build a more sustainable Tampere. I believe that climate and environmental considerations should play a stronger role in the city’s decision-making. I want Tampere to invest in education, ensuring high-quality standards and sufficient resources. My goal is to create a vibrant city where people want to live in and move to.

I am running in the welfare county elections, because public social and healthcare services are at risk. The government is cutting funding for social and healthcare services, which means that the well-being of people living in Finland will be more poorly managed in the future. However, I would like to especially highlight mental health services, which have long been in a particularly poor state.

Next, I will share more details about the three municipal election themes and one welfare county election theme.

In Tampere, the biggest climate policy issues are related to energy production and transport. In energy production, we must aim for zero-emission energy sources. We must also move away from burning wood. 

Transport is one of the most challenging sectors for reducing emissions, which is why it needs special attention. Tampere needs to invest in public and sustainable transport to create opportunities for more sustainable everyday choices. The tram has been a great success, and efforts should be made to expand it in the future. The local train network also requires further investment. In areas not served by rail, a comprehensive bus network must be provided. The bicycle network is also crucial for supporting sustainable choices and should be further improved.

Tampere must focus on protecting the biodiversity in its region. The city should invest in creating diverse, natural urban spaces, such as urban meadows. A significant portion of the city’s forests should be protected, and the remaining areas should be managed for continuous growth. Tampere is home to many important natural areas, such as woodlands, that require special care.

Local nature and nearby forests are also vital. Research shows that access to nature greatly impacts well-being and offers excellent outdoor spaces for the people of Tampere. In these nearby forests, biodiversity is often better preserved compared to managed forests. These forests should be protected from development, with construction focusing on infill projects to preserve more space for nature.

Following the social and healthcare reform, education is now the largest responsibility for municipalities. Quality education is an extremely important investment in the well-being, skills, and future of children and young people. Education is also essential for cultural development.

Tampere must invest in high-quality basic education, which provides children with a solid foundation for life. Class sizes must remain reasonable so that each student can be treated as an individual. It is also important that basic education can meet the diverse support needs of children, ensuring that every child receives the help they require. Bullying is a major issue, and schools must be provided with the resources to address bullying with the necessary seriousness in all situations.

There must be investment in quality upper-secondary education, covering both general and vocational pathways. Upper-secondary institutions need sufficient resources to provide high-quality in-person teaching.

Tampere is a university city, with the university being a central part of its identity. The university’s activities should be supported with appropriate measures, and efforts should be made to collaborate with the university. Tampere University of Applied Sciences is also an important part of the city.

Tampere is Finland’s most attractive city, and with the right policies, it will remain so in the future. Attraction and vitality are not achieved simply by having low taxes; they require making people’s lives easy, smooth, and safe. Tampere has done exceptionally well in this regard.

The transport system is essential for building vitality. A well-functioning public and non-motorised transport network enables smooth daily commuting and supports emission reduction goals. Since the tram was introduced, public transport has become the most profitable transport option for businesses in the city center, making it essential for the vitality of the downtown area.

Supporting work and entrepreneurship is key to vitality. Green transition investments also play a part in this, and to attract them, Tampere must actively pursue these opportunities. In this context, green policies and sustainable urban development are necessary.

The city’s services must be improved to ensure they support a seamless and safe daily life. Culture is also a significant factor in attracting and retaining residents, as it has been shown to positively influence people’s quality of life and well-being.

At the national level, only 4.5% of total healthcare expenditure is allocated to mental health services, and this share has been decreasing throughout the 2000s. Despite this, mental health issues affect a significant portion of Finns, approximately one in four adults. Over half of disability pensions are based on mental health conditions. Mental health problems are not only a profound human tragedy but also a significant economic burden: it is estimated that mental health issues cost the state €11 billion annually. Investments in mental health are therefore not only investments in well-being and health but also, in the long term, investments in the economy.

To address the acute mental health crisis, it is essential to ensure that everyone has access to affordable therapy within a reasonable time frame. Access to therapy should not depend on how much money a patient has or their ability to navigate various treatment systems or contact multiple therapists.

Preventative services play a key role in resolving the mental health crisis. Many issues begin in childhood, where child welfare services have a central role in addressing them. Currently, child welfare primarily addresses the most urgent crises, leaving many others in need without adequate support.

Preventative measures in schools are essential. Resources for school psychologists, counsellors, and other support services need to be increased. Mental health screenings conducted by school psychologists would be an effective way to identify those in need of help before their situation becomes critical.