The last municipality elections in Finland had many similarities with the last Parliamentary elections; an unbelievable amount of money spent on posters, brochures and adverts in all kinds of media, people on the streets ready to start a conversation for their wonderful candidate and fancy kiosks. But the biggest similarity was in the candidates themselves.

They were exactly the same people. The Prime Minister, the ministers, the whole Parliament. Ben Zyskowicz, as in the Parliamentary elections, got most of the vote in central Helsinki and all of them were happy to be elected to the local councils.

Here the questions start. Why was it so important for all of them to be elected? Why were they candidates? What does that mean for the Parliament and what does it mean for the local councils? Where did they find all the money? How can the same people afford two powerful campaigns in one year?

If these elections were something like a verification for their popularity, just after a year from their elections to Parliament, that shows great insecurity. They are members of the government and members of the Parliament for the next four years.

It is understandable for any candidate for the Parliament to see the local elections as a first step and test, but how does a member of the government see it? Looks like a way back and this leads to the next question. The role of the Parliament is to make sure that democracy works. The role of the local councils is to make sure that the local communities work. How can you equalize one with the other?

Is the Prime Minister going to take decisions for the country’s defence and the new European constitution and in the evening talk about the new roads in the forest? Not underestimating what the local governments do, isn’t it a bit funny that the Prime Minister of the country has to sit at least once a month on the local council?

If he never goes because of the Prime Minister’s obligations what will that mean for the local council? Do you think a minister, the day Parliament votes a very important law for the national education, will prefer be in local council? And what does that means for the local authorities? Probably their end as authorities.

Last but not the least is the money...