Finland Times

File picture of parliament. Photo Lehtikuva.

A total of 300,000 votes from the electoral districts in which lawmakers who contested the 2011 elections but who will not seek re-election are up for the grab during the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

In all, 33 of the current sitting MPs have announced that they will not seek re-election, whereas a dozen others have taken up other duties.

The largest chunk of 24,000 votes up for the grab is in the Uusimaa region previously garnered by Jyrki Katainen, the former prime minister. Two other sizable pies in the Helsinki region up for the claim are the 15,000 votes received by Jussi Halla-aho and the 14,000 votes bagged by Heli Paasio during the last elections.

Among the major political parties, the Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party) has the least strain concerning the number of MPs elected in 2011 but out of the ballot during the coming elections.

Among the rest, eight sitting MPs from both Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland)-SDP and Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party)-NCP and five MPs from Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) are not seeking re-elections.

Katri Komi and Inkeri Kerola are the only incumbent Centre Party MPs who will not stand for re-election this spring.

By far, the largest number of votes totalling 80,000 open to be claimed come from seats now occupied by Kokoomus MPs, 67,000 from SDP, and 42,000 from Finns Party MPs who will not contest the elections.

A total of 73,000 votes in Helsinki, nearly 60,000 votes in Uusimaa, and 25,000 in Pirkanmaa electoral districts cast during the 2011 elections are up for the claim by newcomers.

During the last elections, a total of 84 newcomer MPs were elected to the parliament. In that period, 38 sitting MPs decided not to seek re-election while 46 sitting MPs failed to retain their seats, mainly due to the Finns Party’s huge win.