{news} Fw: USGP-INT Greens increase seats in Finnish elections

[Justine McCabe]

Monday, March 19, 2007 9:27 AM
 USGP-INT Greens increase seats in Finnish elections


> Finnish Green Party links in English
>
> http://www.vihreat.fi/en
> http://www.europeangreens.org/cms/default/dok/148/148636.finland@en.htm
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: EGP PRESS RELASE : FINNISH ELECTIONS
> Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:44:30 +0100
> From: Graham Burgess <Graham at europeangreens.org>
>
>
> PRESS RELEASE 17.03.2007
>
>
> EUROPEAN GREENS CONGRATULATE FINNISH GREENS ON INCREASING NUMBER OF MPS
>
>
> The European Green Party Spokespersons today congratulated their member
> party, the GREEN LEAGUE ( VIHREÄT/ DE GRÖNA), on their performance in
> the General election held on Sunday 18th March.
>
> Co-Spokesperson Ulrike LUNACEK said, “We are delighted that the Finnish
> Greens have increased their percentage of the vote (+0.4% from 2003
> elections) and increased their number of seats in the Parliament from 14
> to 15. This is quite an achievement when one considers that the Election
> campaign was very polarized between left and right and that the turnout
> for this election was the lowest since the end of the Second World War.”
>
> Co-Spokesperson Philippe LAMBERTS added, “I would like to express my
> warmest congratulations to the 15 Green candidates who won seats in
> Parliament . The EGP is particularly pleased that Pekka HAAVISTO,a
> former EGP Spokesperson is now an MP and that Johanna SUMUVUORI , who is
> currently a member of the EGP Committee, has been re-elected as an MP.
> However , we deeply regret that Tarja CRONBERG, the leader of the Green
> League, failed to regain her seat in Parliament by just a few votes.”
>
> Both Spokespersons expressed “every confidence that the 15 Green MPS
> will be able to further the Green agenda in Parliament. This is
> particularly important now as a survey just last week suggested that
> Finnish voters see Climate Change as the greatest threat to their lives
> and wellbeing, ahead of terrorism.”
>
>
> Graham Burgess
> Communications Officer
> European Green Party
> Tel no: 0032  (0)2 626 0720
> Mobile : 00 32 (0)477 902 023
> Email : graham.burgess at europeangreens.org