Ready for democracy?

Johari and Robert work next to Kolmen sepän aukio, where Vihreät and Kokoomus have put up their tents and houses and serve plenty of coffee.

 

Jan interrupted Joharis and Roberts lunch break to discuss some politics. The first discussion with the guys took place in February. Here comes a quick follow-up.

Hi guys! Last time we spoke about the up-coming elections, they weren´t seen that much. But you have maybe noted a difference now?

Robert: Yeah. The elections are on sunday, right? Here in the centre of the town the candidates are handing out papers everywhere. I even took a brochure from Perussuomalaiset. But usually I don´t read them, I just have the coffee and cakes.

Johari: There is not that much pressure here. In our countries all the supporters and candidates leave everything they have before elections and they are everywhere on the streets. There is always lot of pressure from people. Here it is more neutral.

Why do you think it is like that?
Johari: Maybe people already know who they are voting for.

Robert: From where we come from everything can change until the day before elections. Everything is very uncertain. A candidate does or says something new and the voters will follow that candidate. Maybe here people know better what the parties stand for.

Do you think that Finns behave in a different way not when it is elections?
Robert: Not really.

Johari: Supporters are everywhere handing out leaflets and copies but otherwise I think everything seem quite relaxed.

Have you followed the political situation in North Africa and Mid-East?

Robert: Yes, a lot. For me it feels even more important than the Finnish elections.

Johari: In Africa very many people live in dictatorships. We see a lot of hope in the recent development of course. Gaddafi is a real dictator but there was also a lot of progress in Libya. I am worried about the destruction of the country. 

Robert: And very many African countries still remain untouched by democracy.

Do you think that the people in countries like Libya really know what democracy means and are ready for it?

Robert: They feel that they need a change and they want new governance. But I think that they might not be ready. In Egypt Mubarak was replaced but then they got the military.

Johari: Normally leaders just want to look for their own interests and for their family. As long as there is oil somewhere there will be all sorts of dictators and armies fighting. 

Robert: Yeah. Gaddafis family probably think that the old system was the best. But I think that people want something else. They want freedom.

Johari: The way democracy is handled is a difficult question. Even a dictator can handle things well and democracy doesn’t mean that things are taken care of in a good way. I like to think that democracy is a long process. People believe that democracy is about freedom of speech and elections but it is also about access to resources and other things. In Tanzania for example you can say almost what you want today, all sort of crazy messages, but it doesn’t mean that Tanzania have democracy. Democracy is a very broad concept of many different things.  

Will you vote in the Finnish parliamentary elections?
Robert: No, I can´t. I am not a Finnish citizen.

Johari: Yes.