EU elections | Is it right that Petteri Orpo can appoint himself as a commissioner? This is how party secretaries answer

Reading series is not a pretty sight for people who love democracy: 38.6 percent, 39.1 percent and 40.80 percent. There are the voting percentages in Finland’s last three EU elections.

The next moment of truth will be on June 9, when Finland will vote for 15 representatives to the European Parliament for the next five years.

What would make the voter turnout go up?

HS’s Brussels correspondent Jarno Hartikainen suggested in his comment published on Friday, that Finland’s EU elections would be held at the same time as commissioner elections. Each party would nominate its candidate for commissioner in advance.

The party with the most votes would send its own commissioner to the EU Commission, which exercises the essential power of initiative in the EU.

In Hartikainen’s opinion, this would have many advantages: media publicity would make the commissioner candidates the main stars, there would be more input into the elections, and the selection of the commissioner would take place more democratically.

Every a member state sends its own commissioner to the EU Commission. In Finland, it has become customary for the commissioner to be appointed by the prime minister’s party. In practice, the commissioner’s elector is therefore decided in the parliamentary elections.

If Petteri Orpo would like, he could nominate himself to the commission. That’s how it worked Jyrki Katainen (cook) ten years ago.

HS reached the party secretaries of the six biggest parties to comment on Hartikainen’s proposal. The Greens and the Left Alliance were enthusiastic about the idea, and the Sdp was also ready to consider it.

The coalition, the Basic Finns and the center would remain in the current model.

Kristiina Kokko, coalition

“The Finnish way of electing a commissioner has been in use for a long time and is well established. I myself have not noted that there is any pressure to change.

There has also been no discussion on the matter in the party. I personally think that the interest of the European elections comes from awareness of the importance of the EU. For that, the coalition’s candidates are now touring Finland.

The Finnish election system is already quite person-oriented, so that aspect does not necessarily need to be strengthened.”

Harri Vuorenpää, Basic Finns

Due to a trip abroad, the party secretary of the Basic Finns was reached to comment only by text message. He replied thus:

“Although voter activation for the European elections is important, we do not support such a change. In accordance with established practice, the commissioner is appointed by the prime minister’s party, and we see no need to change the matter.”

Mikkel Näkkäläjärvi, Sdp

“We haven’t had a discussion about this in the party bodies, but we are open to new ideas, and we think it’s important to try to increase the interest of the EU elections. This can be considered in peace after the elections.

Now perhaps the most relevant thing is to focus on the topical issues of these elections, such as security, human rights, environmental issues and supporting Ukraine.”

Antti Siika-aho, center

“I don’t warm to the idea. Too much personalization [komissaarivaalissa] would lead to the fact that a wider range of candidates would be ignored, since these are personal elections after all.

Yes, the sitting government must have the opportunity to appoint a commissioner, because the government has the best idea who in those circumstances [komissioon] is needed.

When it comes to raising the voting percentage, I throw the ball back to the journalists. The number of Finnish journalists working in Brussels can only be counted on the fingers of one hand. Media houses shouldn’t snoop around here, so that people understand that EU politics is not a matter of inconsistency.”

Anna Moring, Greens

“In the party, we have had criticism of the current selection method, and such a change could very well suit us. It is an interesting idea that an element of direct democracy would be added to the appointment of the commissioner.

This model would move from behind-the-scenes play to transparency so that people know what they are voting for when they vote. Open democracy is a great ideal for us.

The current model cannot be defended by saying that it has always been done this way. It’s not an argument, it’s pure conservatism.”

Anna Mäkipää, Left Alliance

“The proposal sounds like it’s worth considering and we have a positive attitude towards it. We have a very positive attitude to reforms that increase voters’ decision-making power and opportunities to influence.

It could also improve the voting percentage, which it doesn’t. It would be a bit like adding a new layer to the elections. If the EU Parliament is distant to the citizens, the Commission can be even more so. This could increase awareness of the commission and bring some sparkle to the elections.”