Savonlinna’s entire city council group defects from Movement Now to Centre Party
A major political shift has taken place in Savonlinna as the city’s entire Movement Now (Liike Nyt) council group, including deputy party leader Panu Peitsaro, has joined the Centre Party, making it the largest faction in the city council, reports Yle.
Peitsaro, a specialist physician and dentist who topped the regional elections in South Savo last year, announced his decision on Ascension Day. All seven of Savonlinna’s Movement Now councillors are following him, dissolving the party’s local council group.
In a statement, the defectors cited the party’s lack of national influence and unrealistic prospects of securing a parliamentary seat in Southeast Finland as reasons for the move. Movement Now had secured seven seats in Savonlinna’s 2022 municipal elections—its strongest local result—making it the city’s third-largest party. However, it failed to gain representation in any other welfare region.
Peitsaro, a former National Coalition Party member who briefly served as an alternate MP in 2019, left the party in 2021 before joining Movement Now.
Blow to Movement Now’s ambitions
Markku Jokisipilä, professor of political history at the University of Turku, called the defection a severe setback for Movement Now, led by MP Harry Harkimo. Peitsaro had been seen as a potential successor or key ally in expanding the party’s parliamentary presence beyond its single seat.
“This weakens Movement Now’s growth prospects significantly,” Jokisipilä said. “Defections of this scale are rare—perhaps once in 50 years in Finland.”
The shift gives the Centre Party 20 of Savonlinna’s 43 council seats, overtaking the Social Democrats (13 seats). Jokisipilä noted that Peitsaro’s support could bolster the Centre Party’s chances in future elections, particularly in Southeast Finland, where its performance has faltered in recent parliamentary votes.
“If the Centre Party runs a strong opposition-driven campaign, its parliamentary group could grow,” he added.