Seppo Kääriäinen, first deputy speaker of the Parliament

In an interview with the Finnish News Agency (STT) on Monday Seppo Kääriäinen, first deputy speaker of the Parliament, said that he expects a stormy campaign for the general elections in April.

Although Kääriäinen is not convinced that the voting percentage will fall, he commented that if this does happen the changes could proportionally be significant.

The deputy speaker expressed a hope that the candidates would avoid spending large sums of money on buying publicity. Instead he hoped that candidates would try to connect directly with the voters.

Candidates may turn to their own private funds in the light of the campaign finance scandal of the previous elections, Kääriäinen predicted.

Kääriäinen predicted that changes are on their way, and that these changes may be significant.

STT
Lehtikuva - Markku Ulander