Sunday February 01, 2026

Kokoomus sweeps in county polls

Published : 24 Jan 2022, 02:59

DF Report

People are seen to cast votes in advance in the county elections at a polling station in a market. DF Photo.

The opposition Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) bagged highest number of votes in the first ever county elections (elections to 21 wellbeing services-social, health and rescue services- counties) in the country held on Sunday.

The ruling Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) secured second place in the elections followed by another component of the ruling alliance Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party of Finland) and main opposition Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), according to the results announced by the Ministry of Justice early Monday.

A total of 18, 65, 270 votes out of 39, 27, 728 were cast in the elections and the turnout was 47.5 percent.

The elections authority, however, rejected 7879 votes in the elections.

Kokoomus got a total of 4, 01, 320 votes (21.6%) while SDP got total 3, 59, 014 votes (19.3%) and Keskusta 3, 56, 462 votes (19.3%).

Perussuomalaiset, which secured fourth position, faced a debacle in the election bagging 2, 06, 477 votes (11.1%).

Three other components of the five-party alliance government Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance) got 1, 48, 594 votes (8%), Vihreä Liitto (Green League) 1, 36, 961 votes (7.4%) and Suomenruotsalainenkansanpuolue (Swedish People’s Party of Finland-RKP) bagged 91, 404 votes (4.9%).

The opposition Suomen Kristillisdemokraati (Christian Democratic Party) got 78, 825 votes (4.2%), Liike Nyt (Movement Now) 33, 733 votes (1.8%) and Valta kuuluu kansalle (Power Belongs to the People) 24, 138 votes (1.3%). While the rest votes went to the small parties and groups.

Out of the total 1379 seats, Kokoomus got 289, SDP 275, Keskusta 297, Perussuomalaiset 156, Vasemmistoliitto 100, Vihreät 90, RKP 77, Suomen Kristillisdemokraati 57, Liike Nyt 20, Valta kuuluu kansalle ten and other groups eight.

The election was held as part of the country's social and health care overhaul. Responsibility for health and social services is transferred to 21 welfare districts. The 21 regions will also be in charge of fire safety and rescue.

The Helsinki region was not included in the elections, because the City of Helsinki will continue to be responsible for social, health and rescue services in Helsinki.

Åland was also excluded in the polls as it was not affected by the health and social services reform.