Not easy to say no, at times. Just back from a meeting with an association of veteran social democratic politicians, officials and activists as newly elected president of the largest local organisation ”P\u00e4\u00e4kaupungin Wanhat Toverit” – The Old Comrades of the Capital City. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The picture is not from today’s meeting here in Helsinki, however, but from our national conference last year in Tampere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We get together once a month around a theme which today was the challenge of Europe’s extreme right. Many friends and colleagues from years far back were there. And yes, most looked ’like themselves’, even after my 26 years in Geneva. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a group of really experienced people with deeply imbedded values of human rights, democracy, equality and tolerance. Working together with these friends and colleagues is definitely a very special and pleasant but also inspiring challenge. Also happy for the confidence they showed me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Not easy to say no, at times. Just back from a meeting with an association of veteran social democratic politicians, officials and activists as newly elected president of the largest local organisation ”P\u00e4\u00e4kaupungin Wanhat Toverit” – The Old Comrades of the Capital City. The picture is not from today’s meeting here in Helsinki, however, but … <\/p>\n