GRIOT MEDIA
Wednesday 20 April 2022
Monday 24 May 2021
Foreign Nationals and Municipal Elections in Finland
Electoral rights of foreign nationals in municipal elections of Finland
Right to vote
In municipal elections of Finland, entitled to vote are Finnish citizens who reach the age of 18 years on election day at the latest and reside in Finland. In addition, entitled to vote are:
1) citizens of other EU Member States, Iceland and Norway residing in Finland, under the same conditions as Finnish citizens; and
2) citizens of other states if they have resided continuously in Finland for at least two (2) years on the 51st day before election day when the voting register for municipal elections is established.
No one needs to separately register to be entered in the voting register for municipal elections. Instead, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency compiles the register by virtue of office, based on the information entered in the Finnish Population Information System for each individual.
Right to stand as a candidate
As a rule, every person entitled to vote in municipal elections is also eligible to stand as a candidate in municipal elections. However, persons who have been declared legally incompetent by a court decision and persons who perform certain tasks related to municipalities referred to in section 72 of the Local Government Act are not eligible to stand as candidates in municipal elections.
Candidates may be nominated by (a) political parties and (b) constituency associations. To become a candidate of a political party, the person must agree on this with the party in question. To become a candidate of a constituency association, the person must collect the signatures of at least ten (10) persons entitled to vote in the municipality in question in support of his or her candidacy. Further information on the nomination of candidates is provided by:
- registered political parties, and
- central municipal election boards, if the question concerns the establishment of a constituency association.
The above extract from the website of the Finnish electoral commission said it all regarding the rights of residents of foreign nationalities in Finland to vote and be voted for in Municipal elections.
But the pertinent question to ask is, are the foreign nationals effectively utilizing these rights?
In this article, we will feature some candidates of foreign backgrounds and from different political parties to find out what their manifestos sound like, and also know what other things they have in mind to offer.
Christian Thibault is a European of German extraction, from Bonn, to be precise
- Why I want to serve the people: I believe that we need to do a lot of work for and as a society and that so far democracy is the best form to do it. Democracy needs active participants and as such, I am ready to serve.
- What I think about diverse participation in local politics: It is very important that the diversity of a municipality's citizens is represented on every level of decision-making. In this, we have to remember that immigrants are not one homogenous group, but rather consist of multiple backgrounds and generations.
Habiba Ali is a young mother of Somalian extraction.
I am a young municipal councilor from Espoo, the Church Aid Aid Program Coordinator and mother of the family. As a person, I am brave, honest, and humane. I am very people-oriented and get along with different types. It has therefore been natural that in my working life I have ended up in positions where I have worked as a bridge-builder between communities. I enjoy meeting people and working together, it’s a strength that supports me.
Despite my young age, I have been involved in politics for more than 15 years. I was elected to the Espoo Youth Council at the age of 14. Since then, I have worked in various organizations and municipalities in both work and trust positions. The red thread in all my activities is the desire to see an equal, diverse, and secure society around me. A society where no one is left out and everyone would treat each other equally as human beings without any additional attributes or confrontation. I want to continue this work in the Council
John Opoku Aduajei is a young father of Ghanaian extraction
Your vote matters and it's respected to make a huge difference.
Kindly take your valid ID to the nearest Posti or supermarket and vote for John Opoku Aduadjei (955).
Also from the voting notice you received from Maistratti, there are listed in it the places closer to you where you can vote as well.
We're counting on your priceless vote to make a difference in our Municipality.
#Vote955
#SustainableEntrepreneurship
#betterlives4immigrants
Eligible persons of foreign background are hereby encouraged to use their votes to bring in those they believe will represent their interests, for this is the essence of democracy.
You cannot sit back and murmur your complaints when things do not favor your interest. The time to act is now. USE YOUR VOTING RIGHT do not waste those papers you got from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
CAST YOUR VOTES NOW!
Ike Ude-Chime is a freelance journalist and a member
of the European Journalists Network EJN
Saturday 17 August 2019
WOMAN, SOURCE OF LIFE: ART EXHIBITION - EU-MAN (The European Union Migrant Artists Network)
JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen, a conceptual artist, cum Politician |
Amir Khatib, Chairman European Union Migrant Artists Network |
Sunday 2 August 2015
Bonding Through Culture in the Diaspora: The World Igbo Festival of Arts and Culture, Virginia USA
Young Diaspora Igbo girl at the festival poses with calabash vessel on her head |
One of the largest group of Igbo people of Nigeria found in the diaspora nowadays reside in the United States of America. During the British colonial era in Nigeria, most educated Nigerians preferred Britain as a destination for further studies, but in the 1920s a radical Igbo chap chose to act differently, he was Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, fondly called Zik of Africa. He graduated from Lincoln University Pennsylvania in 1930 and was to become one of the pioneers and a very prominent figure in Nigeria's quest for independence from Britain. He ended up being the first Governor-General of Nigeria, and subsequently the new Nigeria's first President.
Young Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe |
After his studies on returning back to Nigeria, he started encouraging others, his kinsmen and other Nigerians, and West Africans to study in the US as he believed that will open their eyes towards Pan Africanism.
Kwame Nkruma of Ghana was among the young men he influenced to study in America.
From that moment, America became an important destination for the quest for the Golden Fleece, as western education was termed in those days. A great number of Igbo and other Nigerian elites who were founding fathers of the Nigerian nation were trained in the US. This trend continued until 1967 when Nigeria went into civil war.
At the end of the war after the Nigerian government declared 'No victor, no vanquished' the Igbo people who were a major part of Biafran a people that attempted to secede from Nigeria, became victims of all sorts of institutional discrimination when the attempt failed.
Ikpririkpe war dancers |
Being far away from home comes with a lot of challenges, People get homesick as they miss their home environment. They miss the traditional food, music, and other ways of life they have grown up with. The Igbo people are known for their love for their culture, 'Omenala' and with their belief in the philosophy of 'Nwanne di na mba' (There is brotherhood abroad) they often seek each other when they are in a foreign land, and form associations for the promotion and sharing of their culture.
With this in mind, it is not surprising therefore that in the USA as in other parts of the world where Igbo people abound, they often set up an association.
Igbo children dance group relaxing |
CISA is the umbrella organization of all the associations representing people from Igbo states of Nigeria resident in America. The Igbo state associations are made up of Igbo town unions in the USA. With this structure, the Igbo Americans were able to build a large network of its members cutting across the entire United States. They also use the synergy of this union to carry out massive development projects in their various home states in Nigeria, projects designed to help alleviate poverty, healthcare, and infrastructural problems.
The World Igbo Festival of Arts and Culture
Last year, CISA organized it's first major Igbo cultural festival outside Nigeria, The Igbo Festival of Arts which took place at the Igbo Farm Village of the Frontier Museum, Staunton Virginia.
Nkwa Umuagbogho dancer |
Recently, the second World Igbo Festival of Arts took place at the same venue, it kicked off on Thursday, July 23 through Saturday, July 25. The festival featured symposiums, exhibitions, music performances, cultural displays, and traditional interactive arts, Igbo traditional cuisines, and cultural dresses. Some of the highlights were the 'Nkwa Umuagbogho' maiden dance, masquerade displays, Abriba war dance, Children's dance performance, and more.
During the festival, African Americans who recently found their Igbo ancestry through DNA test were ceremonially given Igbo names in a ritual performed by the Igbo traditional king, Eze Nri, HRH Obidiegwu Onyeso (MFR)
The event was attended by Diaspora Igbo people from all parts of North America and from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Prominent Igbo sons and daughters were also in attendance some of whom were
a team of Arik Airline delegates lead by Dr. Onyeani, the Vice-President of Arik Airlines. Others were Royal fathers Eze Nri, HRH O. Onyeso, HRH Eze Cletus Ilomuanya. There were also delegates from Namibia, South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Liberia, Cameroon, Canada, Mexico, etc.
In a concluding statement on the festival, Mathias Mgbeafulu, the Secretary-General of Council of Igbo States in America, CISA, had this to say,
"Indeed festivals of this magnitude require a tremendous amount of advanced planning, and CISA's success was made possible in part by the efforts of its leadership and the hard work of the festival planning committee led by professor Paul Oranika, the Frontier Museum management, and staff, students of Igbo school Boston, the Ogene Organization of Virginia led by Hon Emeka Nwosu, The Igbo Council of Chiefs USA, led by Dr, Nwachukwu Anakwenze, the goodwill of the traditional ruler, and of course the support of all who had time to attend."
Igbo people in Diaspora in every Conner of the globe have often used their culture as a binding force within their homes away from home. One very popular Igbo traditional festival that plays this role most is the Iri-Ji Festival, The New Yam Festival, a harvest thanksgiving that is celebrated yearly between the months of September and October.
These cultural activities have recently become the bonding power among Igbo people in the diaspora, helping to strengthen the younger generation by giving them a solid identity with their roots.
Friday 6 March 2015
COUNCIL OF IGBO STATES IN AMERICAS [CISA] TO HOST WORLD IGBO FESTIVAL OF ARTS & CULTURE: JULY 23, 24, and 25 2015.
Contributions to American Culture
Click here to register early for the event; http://www.