(AGENPARL) – Wed 29 October 2025 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG074(2025)
Council of Europe Congress calls on Finland to strengthen campaign finance regulation and awareness of voting procedures
Presenting the results of the Congress’ election observation mission, rapporteurs Gobnait Ní Mhuimneacáin (Ireland, L, ILDG) and Kristoffer Tamsons (Sweden, R, EPP/CCE) noted that the Congress delegation, which visited 110 polling stations, found that elections were well-organised and that the democratic process benefitted from a high level of trust of all stakeholders.
In the context of the recent establishment of the wellbeing service counties in Finland, county and municipal elections were held for the first time on the same day. The election administration conducted its duties in a timely, professional and independent manner; the election campaign was competitive and peaceful, focused on county and municipal issues; and voters were presented with balanced and in-depth coverage by the media. While youth and non-Finnish residents remained underrepresented as voters and candidates, the newly elected councils successfully approached gender parity.
The election day proceeded calmly and peacefully, with no major procedural shortcomings or inconsistencies. At the same time, the dual election caused some confusion among voters on candidate selection, while the roles and responsibilities of the newly established counties remained unclear to most. This situation resulted in an unusually high number of ballot papers being declared invalid.
While the overall assessment was positive, the Congress recommended strengthening the electoral dispute framework to ensure a timely redress, expanding the requirements of campaign finance disclosure to all candidates, reinforcing voter education on voting procedures and making training compulsory for all members of election commissions. Finland was also encouraged to reinforce local and regional democracy, including boosting civic participation, notably of youth and non-Finnish residents, considering incentives for local councils to elect mayors in order to strengthen local political leadership, as well as introducing clauses to limit cumulative political mandates.
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
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