SDP politicians campaign for Kamala Harris in Boston, USA

Nearly 40 politicians from the opposition party SDP are currently in Boston, USA, campaigning in support of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The SDP politicians have been going door-to-door and making phone calls to voters to gather support for Harris. The purpose of the SDP’s trip to the United States is to learn from the electoral process in anticipation of next spring’s elections in Finland, according to MP Niina Malm from Southeast Finland.

“Learning is part of education. We must see various perspectives to handle common matters fairly,” Malm stated.

However, the trip has received criticism from Jani Mäkelä, chairman of the parliamentary group of the ruling Perussuomalaiset party. “Following elections is normal, but trying to influence people’s voting behavior is not,” Mäkelä said, arguing that Finnish politicians should refrain from commenting on elections in allied countries. “National interests are served by maintaining functional relationships with leaders,” he added.

Despite the criticism, Tapio Raunio, a political science professor at the University of Tampere, does not see anything wrong with the SDP’s activities. He noted that Finnish parties traditionally travel to encourage each other and participate in election events. “The U.S. elections are perhaps considered so significant that the party wanted to engage in this way,” Raunio commented.

Malm also highlighted that the U.S. campaign is incredibly personal, and she hopes to bring back the positive cultural aspects of voter engagement and empathy to Finland. She expressed concern, however, that the aggressive campaigning seen in the U.S. should not spill over into Finnish politics, arguing that candidates should focus on presenting their own plans rather than attacking their opponents without justification. Voting in the U.S. presidential election is currently underway, with live coverage available on Yle from November 6.