Demonstration weekend in Helsinki, Lappeenranta and Tampere News
Although many Covid restrictions will be lifted early next week, protests against such measures continue in Finland.
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Three coronavir-related demonstrations will be held in Helsinki this weekend.
Police warned of traffic congestion in the center of Helsinki, but said traffic had returned to normal on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday’s events include a protest against the vaccination mandate for social and health care workers, which began at Senate Square at about 2 p.m., before marching on Narinkkator.
The Convoy Finland movement, which started protests a week ago and is calling for an end to coronary virus restrictions, a reduction in fuel taxes and the resignation of the government, will continue protests this weekend. Police said that about 50 vehicles and about 100 marchers marched from Senate Square to Töölö Sports Hall.
Helsinki Police Inspector Outi Säilä-Saartenoja said the processions went smoothly and as agreed with the police.
A separate so-called “demonstration of freedom” is scheduled for Sunday.
According to police, the three events have different organizers, even though they have similar themes.
About 100 protesters in Lappeenranta, Eastern Finland, also opposed the vaccination mandate of social and health care workers on Saturday.
“I have nothing against anyone being vaccinated against the coronavirus. But it is not right for an employee’s salary to be frozen if, for one reason or another, he does not want to be vaccinated,” one of the organizers of the event Milla Eerolatold Yle.
Eerola is the city councilor of basic Finns from the nearby city of Imatra. He said he had organized the demonstration in South Karelia as a private individual, not as a municipal politician. He is also a member of the board of the South Karelia Social and Health District (Exote).
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Energy demonstration in Tampere
At the same time, a demonstration related to energy production began on Saturday at 3.30 pm at Tampere Central Market, according to the Central Finland Police Department.
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The demonstration is organized by the local branches of the environmental groups Elokapina, Greenpeace, Fridays For Future and Friends of the Earth.
Protesters called on the city of Tampere to stop using biomass – primarily wood – for energy production at the new Naistenlahti 3 power plant, as it is not climate-sustainable. The plant will start commercial operations by the end of this year.
17.58: Updated for the Lappeenranta event.