International Kokoomus of Espoo

05/09/2026

Thank you! Today, 5 September, Finland marks Yrittäjän päivä, National Entrepreneurs' Day.

The day has been celebrated every year since 1997. It falls on 5 September because it was on that date in 1995 that entrepreneurs signed the founding document of the Federation of Finnish Enterprises at Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, bringing two separate organisations together under one roof.

International Kokoomus of Espoo warmly thanks every entrepreneur who takes the risk, builds a business and keeps Finland running. Happy Entrepreneurs' Day!

01/09/2026

Taking care of safety in Uusimaa: Central Uusimaa and Espoo to get new shelters. 💙

– “It has simply been unsustainable that an entire wellbeing services county lacked even a single shelter. When someone has to flee violence in their own home, help must be available nearby and immediately,” states MP Keto-Huovinen.

– “Women's and children's safety will not be compromised, even in a difficult economic situation. Tough choices have to be made in the budget, and that's precisely when our priorities show. A person fleeing violence must receive help when it is needed most,” MP Vuornos outlines.

👉🏻 The Orpo Government is increasing funding for shelters for victims of domestic violence by €2.68 million. In addition to Central Uusimaa, new shelters will be opened in Espoo and the Sámi region, and additional shelter places will be added in Kainuu. Funding for shelters has been reinforced in every single budget of the Orpo Government.

Pidetään huoli uusmaalaisten turvallisuudesta: Keski-Uusimaa ja Espoo saavat uudet turvakodit. 💙

– On ollut yksinkertaisesti kestämätöntä, että kokonaisella hyvinvointialueella ei ole ollut yhtäkään turvakotia. Kun ihminen joutuu pakenemaan väkivaltaa omasta kodistaan, avun pitää löytyä läheltä ja heti, kansanedustaja Keto-Huovinen toteaa.

– Naisten ja lasten turvallisuudesta ei tingitä vaikeassakaan taloustilanteessa. Budjetissa joudutaan tekemään vaikeitakin valintoja, ja juuri silloin näkyy, mitä pidämme tärkeänä. Väkivaltaa pakenevan ihmisen pitää saada apua silloin, kun sitä kaikista kipeimmin tarvitaan, kansanedustaja Vuornos linjaa.

👉🏻 Orpon hallitus lisää turvakotien rahoitusta 2,68 miljoonalla eurolla. Keski-Uudenmaan lisäksi uudet turvakodit avataan Espooseen ja saamelaisalueelle, ja Kainuussa lisätään turvakotipaikkoja. Turvakotien rahoitusta on vahvistettu jokaisessa Orpon hallituksen budjetissa.

22/08/2026

💙 International Kokoomus of Espoo took part in an important step in Finnish democracy today.

💙 Ahead of next spring's parliamentary elections, each region's Kokoomus branch holds meetings to formally nominate its candidates. So today, Uudenmaan Kokoomus (the Kokoomus branch covering the Uusimaa region, including Espoon Kokoomus) held an extraordinary district meeting in Tuusula to name 18 new candidates, bringing the regional total to 29.

💙 We are delighted that our own member, Susanne Päivärinta, a sitting Member of Parliament, has now been officially named as a candidate for re-election.

💙 Local associations like ours send a voting representative to these meetings, since decisions on who represents the party are made collectively by member associations, not just by party leadership.

💙 Svitlana Sorokina holds this voting mandate for our association throughout the current association year, covering all of Uudenmaan Kokoomus's district meetings. Both Svitlana and our secretary Sami Kiiski found the atmosphere excellent. 🤩

21/08/2026

📢 Inheritance Tax Reform: "It Is Simply Not Enough"

National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) MP Susanne Päivärinta Päivärinta has expressed her disappointment with the government's handling of inheritance and gift tax reforms. Whilst payment periods have been extended and tax-free thresholds raised, she stresses that these minor adjustments do not go far enough.

Key takeaways from the article:

🔹 Ability to Pay vs. Date of Death: Päivärinta argues that tax fairness should be based on an individual's ability to pay, rather than a date of death. Current rules force people to pay tax on assets they cannot actually access or liquidate—such as when a surviving spouse remains in the family home or during lengthy probate disputes.

🔹 Holding Back Family Businesses: Inheritance tax acts as a significant drag on growth, employment, and investment. Citing evidence from Sweden—where abolishing inheritance tax led to increased business turnover, profitability, and higher overall corporate tax receipts—she highlights the broader economic benefits of reform.

🔹 Refuting the Deficit Claims: Dismissing arguments that scrapping the tax would automatically leave a €1 billion hole in the national budget or increase taxes for ordinary citizens if replaced by capital gains tax, Päivärinta notes that tax parameters have not yet been decided. Crucially, if inherited property or money is not sold, zero capital gains tax is incurred.

🔹 Active Campaign for Abolition: Suggesting a phased reduction by gradually raising the tax-free threshold, Päivärinta pledges to keep actively pushing for total abolition as she seeks re-election to parliament.

What are your views on Finland's inheritance tax system? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 👇

Jatkokautta eduskuntaan hakevan Susanne Päivärinnan mukaan ei riitä, että perintö- ja lahjaveron poisto kirjattiin jälleen kokoomuksen tavoiteohjelmaan.

09/08/2026

09/08/2026

🏰 What a day at Suomenlinna Sea Fortress!⛴️

Huge thanks to Bo Grönholm for guiding us through centuries of history, from Susisaari to Kustaanmiekka, all the way to King's Gate. It's not every day you get to explore a UNESCO World Heritage site with someone who truly knows every stone of it.

Great company, great stories, and a beautiful August day on the water. Moments like these are exactly why we do what we do: bringing people together to explore, learn, and connect.

Thank you to everyone who joined us! 🙌

📍 Suomenlinna, Helsinki
🎗️ Organised by International Kokoomus of Espoo, a local English-speaking association within Espoon Kokoomus.

04/08/2026

Guided Tour of Suomenlinna with Bo Grönholm

International Kokoomus of Espoo warmly invites you to a guided tour of Suomenlinna, led by Bo Grönholm. Guiding in Suomenlinna is a licensed activity. Only guides authorised by the Ehrensvärd Socie…

23/05/2026

🌍⚖️ International Kokoomus of Espoo attended: "Sortuuko oikeusvaltio?" (Is the Rule of Law Collapsing?)

On Thursday, May 21st, our members gathered for an incredibly insightful and timely evening hosted by Espoon Kokoomusnaiset and Tapiolan Kokoomus.

We had the privilege of hearing from MPs Karoliina Partanen and Pihla Keto-Huovinen as they tackled a critical theme: The bottlenecks in our judicial system and the realization of citizens' legal protection.

During the discussion, Pihla Keto-Huovinen shared a profound perspective on short-term prison sentences, specifically highlighting convictions with a duration of just 3 months. She emphasized her strong desire to utilize multi-professional cooperation to break the cycle—ensuring these individuals get the holistic support they need rather than just returning to prison for another 3 months.

Other key takeaways from the evening included:
The backlog challenge: How delays in court proceedings affect everyday citizens and businesses.

Securing legal protection: Ensuring that justice is not just available on paper, but efficient and accessible in practice.

The future of the rule of law: What structural reforms and resources are needed to keep the Finnish judicial system resilient.

A huge thank you to the hosts, the inspiring speakers, and everyone who joined the conversation. Keeping our rule of law strong and finding smart, rehabilitative solutions is a shared responsibility! 🇫🇮✨Espoon Kokoomus