Can the “Red Wave” Stop Austerity in Finland?

Can the “Red Wave” Stop Austerity in Finland?

Last Sunday’s local and regional elections in Finland saw a big defeat for the hard-right Finns Party. Its leader called the gains for left-wing parties a “red wave” — but it’s less clear that this will halt the government’s austerity agenda. Finns Party chair Riikka Purra attends the Eurogroup meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on July 15, 2024. (Simon Wohlfahrt / Bloomberg via Getty Images) Finland is widely seen in Western Europe and the United S…