The Finns say “spring comes in swinging” – when winter gives way to spring, and green shoots meet the final flurries of snow, often well into April. In Finnish politics, too, some hope is beginning to emerge after a long, dark winter.

In municipal, regional and mayoral elections held across the country last week, rightwing populist parties were roundly defeated, while parties on the left gained ground. In particular, the far-right Finns party saw its vote share collapse, from 20% in the general election of 2023 to as low as 7.6% now. This leaves the coalition government of which it forms a part severely weakened and the centre-left Social Democratic party (SDP) with the biggest vote share nationwide (23%). When the Finns party leader, Riikka Purra, admitted defeat on results night, she complained that a punainen aalto, a “red wave”, had swept the country.

The difference between now and the end of last year is like day and night. Back then, I was beginning to wonder why I had moved to Finland. It was dark and cold, and “the most rightwing government” the country has ever seen was working hard to slash public spending and immigration. It felt as though the reality of my adopted home couldn’t be further from the rose-tinted accounts I often read in the media, which spoke of “

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