Li Andersson is not like most other left-wing politicians. She is young, personable, charismatic, and very down-to-earth. She’s also pretty good at winning elections.
I met Andersson at Käänne Festival — a conference she organized to bring the Left together in the wake of a strong performance in the recent European Parliament elections. While the far right made gains across much of the bloc, Finland bucked the trend. The left won 17 percent of the vote, and Andersson was elected an MEP with more votes than any candidate has ever received in a European Parliament election in Finland.
“This is the first time we’ve had this festival,” she told me as we sat down in the conference greenroom, above a bustling restaurant in the center of Helsinki. “It’s really exciting for me.”
Andersson is the former leader of the Left Alliance, Finland’s main left party. The Left put in a good performance in the 2019 elections, winning sixteen seats and entering a coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The coalition was led by one of the coolest politicians in Europe, the SDP’s Sanna Marin, who you may have seen in the news after she was forced to apologize for going clubbing during COVID-19.
As we sit down, Andersson waves goodbye to Marin with a warm smile. The two have just finished a panel discussion on the reduction of working hours (alongside Will Stronge of Autonomy). I note the goodwill that clearly exists between Andersson and Marin with interest — it’s unusual for social democrats and leftists to get along so well.
The two do have a fair amount in common. Both are young, charismatic, intelligent women seen as modernizers within their respective parties. And they have some common views when it comes to policy….
Auteur: Grace Blakeley
