Jari Myllykoski’s return boosts Left Alliance ahead of Finnish parliamentary elections

Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports that former MP Jari Myllykoski’s decision to run again in next year’s parliamentary elections has given the Left Alliance a much-needed lift in Satakunta, a region where the party lost its only seat in 2023.

The party, which currently polls at 11 percent nationally—nearly four points higher than in the last election—has struggled to maintain support in smaller districts like Satakunta. Myllykoski, a 66-year-old former metalworker and long-time MP, previously secured over 4,000 votes in 2019 and remains a strong candidate among industrial workers, a key demographic the party seeks to regain.

His return follows a narrow loss in 2023, when the Left Alliance fell just 289 votes short of retaining a seat in the region. Party officials have acknowledged difficulties in appealing to male and working-class voters, making Myllykoski’s candidacy a strategic asset.

While Myllykoski has previously criticized the party’s environmental focus, he now expresses full alignment with leader Minja Koskela’s direction. His campaign centers on labor rights, an area where the Left Alliance has positioned itself in opposition to austerity measures, including the recent debt brake debate.

The party’s performance in smaller districts like Satakunta could prove decisive if it aims to re-enter government alongside the Social Democrats. Efforts are also underway to persuade Raisa Ranta, who narrowly missed election in 2023, to run again.