The presidium of the Sámi Parliament remains the same after the elections held on Monday, 23 September. The organizing meeting of Sámi district councilors has elected Pirita Näkkäläjärvi from Inari as president for the term 2024–2027. Leo Aikio from Inari was elected as the first vice-president and Tuomas Aslak Juuso from Enontekiö was elected as the second vice-president. The board also remains unchanged. Read the commentary on the election results to the Sámi Parliament of Finland.

Pirita Näkkäläjärvi is happy to continue as president of the Sámi Parliament. Photo: Yle

I am happy that I can continue this work, which I have been doing for a short time now. It is a great honor that I was elected again, said Näkkäläjärvi.

The Sámi Parliament is being organized for the second time this year. The Sámi district elections were organized again in the summer by order of the Supreme Court of Finland.

In the organizational meeting, the Sámi Parliament elects from among themselves, in addition to the chairmanship and the board, the president and members of the boards, as well as representatives for various positions of trust.

The president was elected by a vote of 14–3–2. In addition, one vote was empty. In the vote, the votes were divided between three candidates.

Näkkäläjärvi was elected president for the first time at the organizational meeting held in January by a vote of 13–8.

In addition to Näkkäläjärvi, Niko-Mihkal Valkeapää from Enontekiö and Kari Kyrö from Inari were proposed as president at Monday's organizational meeting.

Niko-Mihkal Valkeapää rose from deputy member to full member in the re-election. He has previously also acted as a representative of the Norwegian Sámi Parliament.

Kari Kyrö was able to participate in the repeat elections based on the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court. He won the election with 215 votes.

Leo Aikio has previously served as both first and second vice president. Photo: Vesa Toppari / Yle.

Leo Aikio from Inari was elected as the first vice president with a vote of 15–3. The second candidate was Kari Kyrö. Two blank votes were cast.

Leo Aikio served as second vice president in the last election period. In January, he was elected first vice president.

Tuomas Aslak Juuso has previously served as both president and second vice president. Photo: Mikkal Morottaja / Yle.

Tuomas Aslak Juuso, from Enontekiö, was elected as the second vice-president by a vote of 14–3. The second candidate was again Kari Kyrö. Three blank votes were cast.

Tuomas Aslak Juuso served as president of the Sámi Parliament in the last election period. In January, he was elected second vice president.

In August, the editorial board of the Arctic Century reported on severe budget cuts for Sámi Parliament for 2025.

Source: Yle

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