In Helsinki, 19.5 percent of the population speaks a mother tongue other than Finnish, Swedish, or Sami[1]. This is almost double the national average of 10 %. The most spoken languages are Russian 3.1 %, Somali 2.1 %, and Arabic 1.5 %. It is time for Helsinki politics to reflect the full diversity of modern Finland.
While the national government moves backwards on immigration policies, cities like Helsinki can be inclusive and international. I want to keep Helsinki an internationally attractive city in which to live, work, and study.
Here are six reasons why welcoming newcomers improves our city:
– Everyone deserves to feel at home and valued in this city [2].
– Welcoming newcomers keeps our society thriving.
– We can’t afford to consider immigrant talent only as qualified for low-skill jobs [3].
– A diverse Helsinki means a richer culture and more vibrant urban life.
– Every barrier we tear down unleashes human potential [4]
– The newcomers connect Helsinki to the world.
Politics should be about solving problems, not scoring points. Yet, too often, parties spend excessive energy putting each other down when the real work demands collaboration. I’ve seen firsthand how much can be achieved by working together across party lines. As a co-founder and active member of Tietopolitiikka.fi, a multi-party group focused on information policy, I’ve experienced the joy and effectiveness of working with people from all parties and all political ideologies: less fighting and more progress.
If elected, I will bring that spirit to the Helsinki City Council. The challenges we face—whether welcoming internationals to Helsinki, building new bike lanes, or ensuring access to quality jobs and schools—demand that we think bigger than petty party politics. The truth is no party can represent everything a person stands for. The Greens resonate with me deeply, but I know good ideas, policies, and especially people exist across the spectrum.
International Helsinki can be the beacon for a more international Finland. I have already started collaborating with fellow candidates from other parties to formulate the vision to be included in the Helsinki city strategy for the next four years.
Antti ‘Jogi’ Poikola
Chair of Green Sisu, the English-language chapter of Greens in Finland