by Clifford Thies

The National Coalition, a conservative party, has formed a six-party, Left-Right coalition, drawing on parties across the entire political spectrum, in order to free out the True Finns. The new government will have three parties of the right or center-right (the Swedish Peoples Party and the Christian Democrats, in addition to the National Coalition) and three parties of the left or center-left (the Social Democrats, Left Alliance and Greens), each bloc having about half the seats needed for a majority. In opposition will be Center Party and the True Finns.

It was originally thought that the National Coalition, which finished first in the election, would form a three-party coalition involving it, the Social Democrats and the True Finns. But, talks broke down. At that point, alternatives for the National Coalition included a Center-right government involving it, the Center Party and the True Finns; and, a Left-Right government involving something like the six-party that was put together.

In Finland, as in Ireland earlier this year, a shift to the right by the people has strangely resulted in an incremental shift to the left in the government.

Photo h/t LondonPatriots.org