With 3,624 votes in the last election, former three-term MP Pertti Hemmilä is set to return to Finland's Parliament through the substitute candidate system. The 70-year-old former police officer and farmer confirmed his willingness to accept the role after the first substitute candidate declined the position.
The Vacancy and the Willing Substitute
A seat in the Varsinais-Suomen electoral district opened for the National Coalition Party after their elected member, Saara-Sofia Sirén, was appointed CEO of the state-owned defense company Patria. According to standard parliamentary procedure, the seat is then offered to candidates from the same party list in the order of the election results. The first in line was Anne-Mari Virolainen, CEO of Pharma Industry Finland, who publicly declined the mandate. This moved the offer to the second substitute on the list, Pertti Hemmilä.
Hemmilä stated his position clearly via text message. 'If the Parliament so decides,' he said, referring to the formal ratification process required. 'They have to first accept Anne-Mari Virolainen's refusal, as I understand it.' He acknowledged the significance of the role, calling it 'the most valuable position of trust elected by democratic elections.' He added, 'I have, after all, aimed to get there in the elections.' Hemmilä noted he has a few personal matters to wrap up first before assuming the duties.
A Political Career Interrupted
Pertti Hemmilä is no stranger to the halls of Parliament. He served three consecutive terms as a Member of Parliament from 1999 until 2015. His political career was interrupted when he lost his seat in the 2015 parliamentary elections. He attempted a comeback in the 2023 elections but was not elected, securing the 3,624 votes that now position him as the second substitute. His potential return would mark his re-entry into national politics after a nine-year absence.
His background differs from many of his political colleagues. Before and during his political service, Hemmilä worked as a senior constable in the police force. He also has experience as a farmer, bringing a perspective from outside the typical professional political sphere. At 70 years old, his return would also make him one of the older members in the current parliamentary session.
The Mechanics of Substitute Candidates
The Finnish electoral system uses open party lists where voters select an individual candidate. Seats are distributed based on a combination of party votes and personal votes for candidates. When a sitting MP resigns, dies, or is otherwise unable to serve their full term, their seat is not filled by a by-election. Instead, it is offered to the candidate from the same party who received the next highest number of votes in that electoral district in the last election. These individuals are known as substitute candidates.
This system ensures regional and party proportionality from the original election is maintained. The process requires the Parliament's Constitutional Law Committee to formally confirm the resignation of the outgoing MP and the eligibility of the incoming substitute. Only after this parliamentary decision does the substitute MP gain all the rights and responsibilities of the office. Hemmilä's comment about Parliament deciding references this final, formal step.
The Path Forward and Implications
For Hemmilä to assume the seat, the Parliament must first process the formal resignation of Saara-Sofia Sirén. Following that, the Constitutional Law Committee will verify that Anne-Mari Virolainen has legally declined the seat and that Pertti Hemmilä is the next eligible candidate from the National Coalition Party's list in Varsinais-Suomen. A plenary session of Parliament then confirms the appointment. This is typically a formality but is a necessary constitutional step.
His return would have a minor but tangible effect on the parliamentary arithmetic. The National Coalition Party, as part of the governing coalition, would maintain its seat count. Hemmilä's voting record from his previous terms and his stated political alignments suggest he would be a reliable vote for the party's leadership. However, his long absence means he would be re-entering a political landscape that has evolved significantly since 2015, with new faces, different coalition dynamics, and a fresh set of legislative priorities.
A Second Chance After Electoral Defeat
Hemmilä's situation highlights a feature of the Finnish system: electoral defeat does not necessarily mean a permanent end to a parliamentary career. The substitute system provides a pathway back for those who maintain a strong enough connection with voters to earn a high position on their party's list, even if not enough to win a seat outright initially. For candidates, it represents a potential second act, often arising unexpectedly when a colleague moves to another role.
For voters, it means the person who ultimately represents them can change mid-term without a new election. The system relies on the democratic legitimacy of the original election results. Hemmilä's 3,624 voters from 2023 are, in effect, the foundation of his potential new mandate. His readiness to accept the role, despite his age and the need to settle personal affairs, underscores the enduring draw of parliamentary service for those committed to public life. The coming days will see the machinery of Parliament turn to formalize what appears to be a political comeback nine years in the making.