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Liberals win in Åland elections
- Parliamentary and local elections held in the Åland Islands over the weekend produced a better than expected turnout of voters and a win for the Liberals. In elections to the 30-seat Provincial Parliament (Åland enjoys a large measure of self-government) both the governing and opposition parties saw gains and losses, and hence it is expected that the formation of a new provincial government may be troublesome. The Centre Party retained its nine members in the parliament, while the main opposition party the Liberals made one gain to give themselves nine. The Liberals, however, clearly outscored the Centre Party in votes received.
- The Free Conservatives of outgoing Provincial PM Roger Jansson lost two seats, leaving them with only four. At the same time, the other opposition party the Social Democrats also lost ground and one seat, to finish up with three. There are four Independents, and the last seat went to Ronald Boman, who recently resigned from the Free Conservatives to form his own Protest Party. His protest was well received, as he claimed the largest number of votes of any candidate.
- Voter turnout was up from 61% to more than 64%. The result seems to have been something of a blow to earlier demands for even greater autonomous powers in Åland, as the Liberals do not share the Free Conservative and Centrist beliefs that the current system is inadequate. Some of the most strident supporters of greater freedom have even called for the islands to declare themselves an independent state.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 18.10.1999
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