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EU elections: Several JHL members were elected, Li Andersson and Eero Heinäluoma were the top vote-getters
Li Andersson (Left Alliance), who is a JHL member, got a historical result in the EU elections. In total one fifth of Finnish MEPs are members of JHL.
The EU elections were very successful for Trade Union JHL. The Finnish voters elected to the European Parliament three JHL members: Li Andersson (Left Alliance), Eero Heinäluoma (SDP) and Jussi Saramo (Left Alliance). And the alternate MEP for the Left Alliance, Gashaw Bibani, is also a JHL member. We warmly congratulate all candidates who were elected!
The total number of MEPs who were elected to the European Parliament from Finland is fifteen. This means that one in five Finnish MEPs is a JHL member. We are happy that there are now several MEPs representing Finland in the EU who genuinely value employee rights and equality in working life.
JHL members won a huge share of votes in historical elections
Our member Li Andersson got 247,604 votes. That is the biggest number of votes that any candidate has ever received in the EU elections in Finland. She mobilised voters across party lines.
Eero Heinäluoma got the second-largest number of votes. Heinäluoma has been rated as one of the top 100 most politically influential MEPs, and he was re-elected with 96,503 votes. He and Jussi Saramo are also members of JHL’s Union Council.
– It’s gratifying that in Finland politics that are based on facts and substance won, instead of populist slogans, JHL’s special advisor on EU affairs Merja Launis-Ahtiainen comments about the election result.
You can learn more about the EU election result and the elected MEPs in Yle’s results service.
We thank all JHL members who stood as candidates for their campaign work. And we give a big thank you to every JHL member who was involved in these important elections by distributing the trade union’s materials, organising events and encouraging others to vote.
The far right gained a stronger position in Europe
On the level of the European Union as a whole, the election results show the far right getting stronger. Their rise was predicted before the elections, but in the end it was only moderate.
– The far right has established its position and become stronger in many countries. This will be seen also in decision-making in the EU, for example in watering down of climate action or working life rights, Launis-Ahtiainen contemplates.
The largest political group in the European Parliament, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), remains largest. The Finnish party that belongs to this group is the National Coalition Party.
The elected MEPs will start their work in the European Parliament when its first plenary session takes place in Strasbourg on 16 July. You can view the full European election results on the European Parliament’s website.