Thoughts
Thoughts
My election themes relate to nature, the green transition, the economy and security, and reforming social security.
Nature and energy
I want to advance the green transition in an ecologically and socially sustainable way. Those with less should not pay for the transition; it must happen fairly. Biodiversity has suffered and it must be addressed by safeguarding rare habitats. It is also important for the future of the forest sector that we do things better and more sustainably, so that Finland and Finns continue to gain wellbeing from forests in the future.
To enable decarbonisation we need a great deal of clean energy. Clean and affordable energy also gives industry a competitive advantage. Alongside renewable energy sources we need nuclear power. Nuclear power is safe, and its material and land requirements per unit of energy produced are smaller than for any other form of production. The green transition is also what business wants, and Finland can punch above its weight by exporting ready-made solutions to the world.
Economy and security
As the security environment has changed, we need new thinking. Eastern Finland is developed through smart infrastructure projects such as the Eastern railway and the improvement of Highway 5. New growth comes through new innovations. Our universities play a major role in this, and R&D&I investments must be secured. Through product development we stay at the forefront and gain new export products.
High-quality and free education supports the economy and internal security. The level of education must be maintained and the opportunities of future generations secured. I value the free second-stage education achieved under social democratic leadership. We cannot afford to lose a single young person from ever-smaller age groups.
By taking care of growth, Eastern Finland will not become a periphery but a region that others can look at with admiration.