HS in Kauhajoki | “It doesn't affect the president's work”, says Kari Jeronen – But for many candidates, the sexual orientation of the candidate can be important, say the people of Kauhajoki

Kauhajoki

Is it in the presidential election, does it matter that the other candidate's spouse is a man?

Having met at the parking lot of K-Citymarket in Kauhajoki Matti Levän72, the position is clear.

“I wouldn't vote for a gay man, but fortunately I don't have to.”

Levä's voting decision was already clear in the first round. He voted for the coalition candidate Alexander Stubbia.

“I chose my favorite based on the political party, the party that is closest to me. There is no ambiguity on my part. I didn't have to go through any kind of Jaakob's wrestling,” says Levä.

It could be different if there was another candidate in the second round, says Levä.

In the second round of the elections, Stubb and the candidate of the voters' association face each other Pekka Haavisto (green). HS reported on the survey on Monday, which explored why people are not going to vote for the opposing candidate. In connection with that, it became clear that sexual orientation is the reason for not voting for Haavisto for 40 percent of those who vote for Stubb. Haavisto's spouse is a man.

Levä believes that many people from Kauhajoki think the same way as these 40 percent.

HS visited In Kauhajoki, where the candidates who made it to the second round were not number one in the first round. If the result of the first round of the elections would be as the people of Kauhajoki voted, in the second round they would face each other with the now basic Finns Jussi Halla-aho and supported by the electoral association and the centre Olli Rehn.

Halla-aho collected 33.7 percent and Rehn 24.2 percent of the votes in the first round in Kauhajoki. Stubbia voted 22.9 percent in Kauhajoki and Haavisto 10.3 percent.

Consequently, many people from Kauhajoki are now looking for a suitable candidate in the second round of voting.

Smoking in front of the shopping center Kari Jeronen60, is one of the people from Kauhajoki who voted for Haavisto.

“A more familiar man”, he briefly commented on his voting decision.

Jeronen says that he only heard after voting that Haavisto's spouse is a man. Information about this would hardly have influenced the voting decision, says Jeronen.

“It's a bit strange that the presidential couple would be two men. But in the end, it doesn't affect the president's work,” commented Jero
nen.

Katja Mämmelä has not yet decided who to vote for in the second round of the elections. Picture: Juhani Niiranen / HS

There is the same opinion Katja Mämmela, 48. Mämmelä does not reveal who he voted for in the first round, but his candidate was neither of the remaining ones. Selection in the second round is not easy.

“I probably make a choice at the last minute,” Mämmelä says.

According to him, the voting decision is not influenced by the candidate's private life or spouse.

“That's a private matter. I thought about who else would be more suitable for president in terms of personality.”

But for many, being gay can be a tougher part, Mämmelä estimates.

Many people have traditional values ​​in the lakes, say Maire Pääkkönen (left) and Sirkka-Maija Tuomiajo. Picture: Juhani Niiranen / HS

They believe the same Sirkka-Maija Tuomiajo67, and Maire Pääkkönen64.

“Many here have very traditional values ​​that run in the family,” Pääkkönen describes.

He himself made his decision in good time and already voted in advance.

“The balance was weighed by security policy,” he says.

Of the lake the chairman of Sateenkaari ry in Kauhajoki Mico Ylimäki According to the report, the attitude towards sexual and gender minorities is still very negative in South Ostrobothnia, and hate speech, harassment and discrimination against them is common.

For example, a member of parliament Juha Mäenpää (ps) commented fresh right after the first round of the elections In an interview with Ilkka-Pohjalainenthat it would be difficult for him to go to Linna's party to shake hands with Haavisto's spouse.

“Such exits are unfortunately quite common here in South Ostrobothnia,” says Ylimäki.

Ylimäki would like a more substantive discussion about the candidates' sexual orientation. Above all, Ylimäki is concerned about how the discussion affects young people.

“You can't choose your gender or sexual orientation, but you can decide that your attitude towards others is appropriate,” says Ylimäki.

Mico Ylimäki would like a more substantive discussion about sexual and gender minorities in the presidential elections. Picture: Juhani Niiranen / HS