Finland: Presidential election, 28 January 2018 (and possibly 11 February)

[Aboa]

The small Communist Party of Finland (SKP), known for its various schisms, is experiencing another schism, this time caused by the independent presidential candidate Paavo Väyrynen. The newspaper Maaseudun tulevaisuus is reporting that some members of the party's central committee wanted the party to endorse Väyrynen on the grounds that he is the most Russia-friendly candidate (the extreme left continues to be pro-Russia even after the Soviet Union's fall). While no endorsement was made in the end, one member of the central committee quit the party because he felt that even discussing such an endorsement was betraying the party's values, partly because Väyrynen tacitly gave his approval for the far-right Suomi Ensin ("Finland First") organisation to collect signatures for his candidacy. The Communists' youth organisation also expressed their dismay at such an endorsement being considered.

It should be noted that Maaseudun tulevaisuus is a Centre Party newspaper, so they do have a motive to attack the former Centre Party member Väyrynen because he is taking votes from Vanhanen, the Centre's candidate.

Conflict seems to be largely generational one with older members backing Väyrynen perhaps due to residual pro-Russia sentiment (Väyrynen was very pro-Moscow back in the 80's) while new generation is much more oriented towards European and Latin American radical left.

[Aboa]

And 69.9% voted? That's quite good turnout for Finland, especially given that everyone knew who would win this election.

Presidential elections nowadays always have higher turnout than parliamentary ones, last time there was lower turnout in presidential elections than this was in 1950 (of course voting for electoral college isn't all that comparable)

[Aboa]

And 69.9% voted? That's quite good turnout for Finland, especially given that everyone knew who would win this election.

Presidential elections nowadays always have higher turnout than parliamentary ones, last time there was lower turnout in presidential elections than this was in 1950 (of course voting for electoral college isn't all that comparable)

Why is that?

Usual explanation is that presidential elections have become increasingly more personalized instead of party-centered since the 80's. Also I'd guess that having a clear left-right choice and clear winner instead of opaque post-election coalition building of the parliamentary elections plays part.