HELSINKI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Most Finnish mainstream parties welcomed the Dutch election result on Thursday, after the center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy beat the populist Party for Freedom by far.
Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila said "responsibility has won" in the elections in the Netherlands. He described the country as an important companion to Finland in the European Union.
Finance Minister Petteri Orpo, chairman of the Conservative Party, described the day as "a sunny day" for Europe. "Europe has said 'no' to populism," he said.
Ville Niinisto, chairman of the Green Party, focused on the success of the green left in the Netherlands. The green left greatly increased its seats and rose to the ranks of major parties in the Dutch parliament.
Anna-Maja Henriksson, chairman of the Swedish People's Party of Finland, welcomed the victory of liberal ideas and said it was "a good sign" to Europe.
On his part, Finnish Foreign Minister and chairman of the Finns Party Timo Soini said that the election result indicated the limit of a "single cause party".
