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Our politics

The Swedish Youth of Finland works for a multilingual, liberal and equal Finland. We want to build a viable economy with strong entrepreneurship and the best education in the world. We make ecologically sustainable decisions and want a clean nature.

We look after the interests of both urban and rural areas and consider it important that the whole country is taken into account. Our Finland is a international and multicultural part of the Nordic countries and Europe. We never compromise when it comes to human rights.

Our views

We take a stand on all political themes – here are some of our policies briefly summarised

Liberalism

Liberalism is a cornerstone of our politics: everyone should be able to choose how they live their lives, provided they do not violate or harm others. For us, liberalism means that everyone should have equal opportunities in life, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability or background.

We believe that all political decisions should be made in a way that promotes everyone’s freedom and opportunities for a good life. People cannot be free if they all get the same treatment, which is why we work for an open and tolerant society that always takes language, gender and minority perspectives into account.

Climate change

Solving climate change is the most important challenge of our time. A healthy planet is a prerequisite for a functioning society and the possibility of a good life. We want Finland to be an example and show leadership in climate action, with the long-term goal of becoming emission neutral and having 100% renewable energy production by 2050. Politics has a crucial role in encouraging eco-friendliness. That is why we want to support a green tax shift that raises taxes on environmentally harmful activities and lowers taxes on labour.

Investing in organic and locally produced food is one of the most effective tools in promoting ecological sustainability. We want to promote the conditions for domestic food production, prioritise local food in public procurement and facilitate producers’ opportunities to sell products directly to consumers.

Jobs and the economy

We believe that a functioning market economy that creates jobs is the foundation of a prosperous society. Work and entrepreneurship drive society forward, but also provide meaning and prevent marginalisation.

It should always pay to take a job, which is why we want to make the benefit system more flexible, reduce taxes on labour and make it easier for entrepreneurs to hire. Those who are unable to work should receive adequate support.

We want everyone to have an equal opportunity to balance work and family life, which is why we want to reform family leave so that all parents have time with their children and a fair chance in the labour market.

In Finland, everyone’s efforts are needed, and even more people should be able to realise themselves in working life. That is why we want to make it easier for people with reduced working capacity to find work and raise the employment rate in all age groups.

Education and training

We see high-quality education as the key to Finland’s success. A good general education lays the foundation for an independent life for individuals, and a high level of education enables Finland to succeed in the international competition.

We want to reinstate the subjective right to daycare to give everyone an equal start in life, and increase the number of working adults in schools so that all pupils are seen. Everyone should have equal opportunities to study after primary school, which is why we want to make secondary education effectively free of charge and increase basic funding for higher education institutions. To ensure that everyone, regardless of background, can realise their dreams, higher education should continue to be free of charge.

Internationally

For a small country like Finland, close international cooperation enables influence on the world stage. We believe that Finland should have a seat at all the tables where major decisions are made in bodies such as the EU and the UN, and cooperate with other democratic countries for stability and human rights.

We are not isolated; working for a safer world creates safe communities in Finland too. We want Finland to assume its global responsibility by increasing the refugee quota and by raising aid to one percent of GNI. Finland also needs more labour immigration to be able to safeguard long-term welfare as the population ages.

In the city and in the countryside

For everyone to be able to realise their dreams, we need vibrant rural areas, our unique archipelago environment and growing cities. In our view, urban and rural areas should not be set against each other. Together they build a country where everyone can find a local environment to thrive in.

We want to see dynamic cities with a vibrant urban culture, urban planning that counteracts segregation as well as sufficient green spaces. We want to safeguard opportunities for entrepreneurship in rural areas as well, support the development of climate-smart innovations in sectors such as the bioeconomy and protect local services.

In order for rural areas to remain viable in the future, we want to safeguard the industries that have already supported several generations.

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Statements

Policy programme

The Policy Programme is the Swedish Youth of Finland’s most important political document. In the programme you will find our views on a range of political issues. Our Policy Programme is updated every two years at our annual congress, where all members have the opportunity to influence its content. In addition, we have sectoral programmes that address specific political themes.

Policy programme

Miljöpolitiska programmet

Internationella programmet

Skattepolitiska programmet

Jämlikhetspolitiska programmet

Högskolepolitiska programmet

Poliittinen ohjelma suomeksi