Finland may usher in its first leftist prime minister in two decades in parliamentary elections, as voters worry over the future of the country's generous welfare system as the costs of caring for a rapidly ageing population rise.
But if opinions polls are correct, the left-leaning Social Democrats' ability to govern may be hampered, however, by a surge in support for the Finns Party, a nationalist group riding a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment sweeping the Nordics.
With the European Parliament election less than two months away, the Finnish ballot is being watched in Brussels. Just as the Social Democrats are benefiting from a growing sense of insecurity among Finland's older and poorer voters, the Finns argue that the nation has gone too far in addressing issues such as climate change and migration at its own expense.
The success of Finland's Social Democrats would mark a departure not only for Finland but also elsewhere in the region, where leftist parties have struggled in recent years, yielding some of their hold on the working class vote as anti-immigration nationalists of various stripes emerge. In Denmark, which holds an election in June, the Social Democrats are gaining ground, in part after espousing the populists' anti-immigrant rhetoric.
His talk of raising taxes is unlikely to drive off his supporters, many of whom value highly Finland's huge welfare state.