Finns cast ballots, welfare and climate on agenda

Finns are voting in parliamentary election choosing between 2,500 candidates from 19 political parties and movements for the Eduskunta legislature's 200 seats. The key issue in thus elections are reforming the nation's generous welfare model and tackling climate change.

Helsinki: Finns are voting in a parliamentary election in which reforming the nation's generous welfare model and tackling climate change have emerged as key issues.

Sunday's vote in the European Union member of 5.5 million people is taking place in a Nordic country that has one-third of its territory above the Arctic Circle.

The center-left Social Democratic Party tops a recent poll with 19 percent support.

The populist Finns Party, however, is polling in second place with 16 percent support and has been gathering momentum among voters who find the climate change sacrifices proposed by other political parties too daunting.

Some 36 percent of eligible voters have already cast their ballot in advance, choosing between 2,500 candidates from 19 political parties and movements for the Eduskunta legislature's 200 seats.