The local chapter of the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) in Costa del Sol in Spain has grown into one of the biggest local chapters of the party. This year they are celebrating their 25th anniversary.
The southernmost city of Finland?
The Finnish community in Costa del Sol has been growing for decades. First it comprised mostly of pensioners enjoying their retirement under the Spanish sun, but in the 21st century expats and remote workers have increasingly joined the lively community. Apart from the sunny climate, the area attracts Finns with various Finnish-language services, including a school offering education following the Finnish national curriculum, a community college, a church, different recreational clubs as well as an active entertainment and restaurant scene. “Conversely to what people often say, this is still not the southernmost city of Finland. We live in Spain, so we must follow the laws of this country and we cannot depend on the Finnish Social Security System here”, reminds the chairperson Jukka Leskinen.
”Our activities happen mostly during the winter season. During those times, the strength of the Finnish community here can be counted in tens of thousands of people. Almost every week we invite people to gather together in book clubs, restaurant outings, golf tournaments, excursions or discussion events. Delightfully we are also often joined by Finnish top politicians. Most recently we were visited by the leader of the parliamentary group of the National Coalition Party, Matias Marttinen, who gave a keynote speech in our discussion nights both in Fuengirola and Marbella”, Lehtinen describes.
More and more politicians are hoping for a political kickstart from Costa del Sol – and for a reason
In parliamentary elections last spring, Fuengirola received the second most votes out of all the polling stations outside of Finland. It lost to Stockholm only by a few votes. Now the political atmosphere is buzzing about the upcoming presidential and European Parliament elections. “There has been a lot of political activity from all parties. More than half of the presidential candidates have already visited us in order to introduce themselves for the Finnish community. We are looking forward to Alexander Stubb’s promised visit at the start of January”, Leskinen says.
Collaboration with a growing group of business owners
There is also a local chapter of Suomen Yrittäjät in Spain. The chairperson of Espanjan suomalaiset yrittäjät ry is a ”serial business owner” Irina Viitala. Viitala also sits on the board of the local chapter of the National Coalition Party in Costa del Sol. “The task of our organisation of business owners is to build bridges between the entrepreneurs of Finland and Spain. We are also happy to help any Finns that arrive here with the aim of starting a business”, Viitala describes the functioning of the organisation she is leading.
History of the organisation and an anniversary gala at the end of November
The National Coalition Party in Costa del Sol published its 25th anniversary history on the 23rd of November 2023. The piece has been written by docent Jarkko Kemppi. The history outlines the organisation’s journey from its founding all the way to the present day. Ben Zyskowicz held the oration at the anniversary gala. Among those bringing their greetings was also the mayor of Fuengirola Ana Mula. On the 24th of November 2023, as part of the anniversary week, there was also a seminar for business owners organised in collaboration with the business owners’ organisation.
You can read the history on the organisation’s website at aurinkokokoomus.fi
“Finns are different here under the Spanish sun than in Finland. The community is close-knit and active. Those who live in Fuengirola are “summer finns”, exuberant and lively. In November they do not sit inside watching TV behind closed curtains. Spanish-Finns are more conscious and open-minded than average Finns. People in Fuengirola know how to enjoy life”, states the Editor-in-Chief of the Fuengirola.fi-magazine Antti Pekkarinen when describing the community in its history.