Timo Soini. Photo: Arno Mikkor / Flickr
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Timo Soini, former leader of the Finns Party and long-time figure in Finnish politics, is considering a return to the national stage. But not with the party he once led.
Soini told Turun Sanomat he is open to standing as a candidate in the next parliamentary elections, for the Centre Party. He ruled out launching a new political party and dismissed any interest in the Christian Democrats.
“The Centre needs a working man who speaks to a broad audience in their own language,” Soini said. He added that a figure like that could increase the party’s support by five percentage points.
Soini said his decision will depend on the offer he receives. “I’m available if a good enough offer comes along,” he said.
The Centre Party, which has struggled in recent elections, is currently polling well below its historical averages. Soini believes the party can still reclaim its former influence and compete for the role of prime minister’s party.
He described his political alignment as “too centrist” for today’s Finns Party, which he said has shifted further right than the National Coalition Party. He argued that the core electorate remains in the political centre, and that is where the competition, and the voters, are.
“I don’t want to lead the Christian Democrats, and that’s what would be required. You either have to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big one. I choose the latter,” he said.
Soini also hinted at his intentions in a recent blog post titled For a Living Finland. “Politics is a disease you learn to live with. It won’t leave you, even if you leave it,” he wrote.
Attempts to reach Soini for further comment were unsuccessful. He declined an interview request from Yle following the article’s publication.
Soini entered politics through the Finnish Rural Party (SMP) before co-founding its successor, the Finns Party, in 1995. He led the party from 1997 to 2017 and was its most recognisable face during its rise to national prominence. After stepping down as leader, he joined the Blue Reform party, formed in the wake of Jussi Halla-aho’s leadership victory, but did not return to Parliament.
Soini served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2019 and has also held seats in both the Finnish Parliament and the European Parliament.
He formally stepped away from day-to-day politics in 2021.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
