Pirjo Auvinen, who returns as EPN’s Nordic correspondent after a break of twenty years: Sweden has become a country

‘s new Nordic correspondent has been renowned as ‘s policy and current affairs editor. Pirjo Auvinen.

Auvinen follows in the task Kirsi Heikel, which began in 2019, will end in the summer. Auvinen will start work at its location in Stockholm in early August.

Auvinen, who has worked at for more than 30 years, began his career as a journalist in Sweden. He has also studied in the country and previously worked as ‘s Nordic correspondent from 2000 to 2004.

There are many things about Auvista in Sweden: the years spent there have left behind not only Swedish language skills and interest in Swedish society, but also a lot of friends from studying and working.

– And the reason why I am especially excited to go there right now is that Sweden is largely the same country, but still a different country than when I came back from there 18 years ago, Auvinen says.

According to Auvinen, the biggest change is reflected in three big issues: security policy, immigration policy and the breakdown of bloc policy.

Auvinen states that the current security policy debate is a really big deal for Sweden – even bigger than for Finland.

– It is history when it is what it is, that is, more than 200 years of peace with these very arrangements, and now suddenly Sweden should completely change its direction, Auvinen says.

The downsizing of the Swedish Defense Forces, which began in Auvinen’s correspondent years in the early 2000s, is also undergoing a complete reversal.

– At the time, it was estimated that there was no threat to Sweden, and even if such a threat did happen, it would be so slow that Sweden would be able to return its army quickly enough, Auvinen recalls.

However, the world changed faster than Sweden or elsewhere could have predicted.

Auvinen states that Sweden has, of course, strengthened its army in recent years, and there is no starting point from scratch: Sweden has very good air and naval forces. However, it is a project for years that the army will be rebuilt, Auvinen says.

According to Auvinen, another major change in the last twenty years is the birth and breakdown of bloc policy:

– I, too, was at the home of the leader of the Center Party in Jämtland, when the various right-wing parties set up their own bloc, ie there was clearly a left-wing bloc and a right-wing bloc fighting for power. And now it’s also broken, Auvinen points out.

– At least a change in immigration policy is now being discussed. How much it really changes then remains to be seen, Auvinen says.

It did not take long for an experienced journalist to consider re-applying for the post of correspondent:

– As I said, it is a different country, and these are really big and interesting changes that are happening there now, he says.

The work of a correspondent has changed greatly in twenty years – as has the work in Pasilank’s editorial office, Auvinen states.

At the beginning of the 21st century, online news coverage was still in its infancy. Today, journalists are also much more visible and heard in live broadcasts. However, Auvinen remembers that in his previous term he did direct work with the Foreign Minister, among others Anna Lindhin in connection with the assassination and the honor killing of a young Kurdish woman who ravaged Sweden.

Above all, however, Auvinen looks forward to analyzing Sweden and other Nordic countries during his correspondence.

– Although the Internet has shrunk the world, it seems to be true that various phenomena come to us here with a little delay, which means that Sweden may still be a little ahead, Auvinen says.

One thing that will not be in short supply, at least, is the range of topics to be addressed.

– Right now, an awful lot and even big changes are taking place, in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and other Nordic countries. It’s great to be able to travel and be there on site, to see with your own eyes and to be able to tell in your own words how things seem, Auvinen says.

A great change between the periods of correspondence has also taken place in the fact that Finland is now much better known in Sweden.

– In the past, it may have been that the information about Finland was very fragile, and it spoke more about the lack of interest. But now Finland is very much on display there, Auvinen reflects.

Auvinen, who has worked at since 1991, has been very grateful for the opportunity to become ‘s Nordic correspondent again.

– After all this, I have been really happy and proud of our employer today for a person of this age to be appointed there. I want to bring out this good news, Auvinen says.