Municipal polls shifted to 13 June

The upcoming municipal elections scheduled to be held on 18 April has been shifted to 13 June.

The government on Saturday took the decision after holding talks with the secretaries of the parliamentary parties, considering the coronavirus situation.

“The meeting with the secretaries of the parties has ended. Eight parties out of nine are in favour of postponing the municipal elections to June due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation,” said Justice Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson in a twitter post after the meeting, adding that the elections will be held on 13 June.

Sources said the main opposition Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) was the lone party that opposed the decision of deferring the elections.

Earlier, on Friday and Saturday morning, the secretaries of the parliamentary parties met the officials of the justice ministry to take the final decision in this regard.

On 28 February, Henriksson, in an interview with the national broadcaster Yle, said the government was reviewing the situation to see if it demands a postponement of the 28 April municipal polls.

She also discussed the issue with the secretaries of the parliamentary parties on 27 February.