Conservative leader Petteri Orpo won the three-way election race in Finland, defeating Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s center-left party. The right-wing populist Finns Party won a record 20.1% of the vote. Marin conceded the election and congratulated the winner and the Finns Party.

The National Coalition Party, led by Petteri Orpo, has won the Finnish general election with 20.8% of the vote, beating Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Social Democrats. The right-wing populist Finns Party came in second with a record 20.1%, while Marin’s centre-left party secured 19.9% of the vote. Marin conceded defeat, congratulating Orpo and the Finns Party for their victories.

The Finnish people seemed to be seeking change and the result marks a bitter defeat for Marin, despite her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and steering Finland towards NATO membership. Marin’s party, however, still increased their seats in parliament. For weeks, the three parties were neck and neck in the polls, and the outcome of the election remained too close to call.

Orpo expressed his plans to initiate negotiations with all parties, saying, “I think Finnish people want change. They want change, and now I will start negotiations, open negotiations with all parties.”