Thousands of people gathered in central Helsinki on Saturday to demonstrate against the government's proposed austerity measures and budget and funding cuts. Protesters clamoured for cancellations to the planned cuts, demanding that everyone be provided with a sufficient livelihood.
Several hundred people started off the demonstration at 2 pm, but the warm and sunny weather meant that thousands more turned up in the next three hours. By 4 pm police estimated that there were some 8,000 people in attendance, far more than the organisers' original 6,000 target.
The force behind the protest is the Joukkovoima ("Collective Power") movement, made up of a number of associations and interest groups. The organisers say the march was politically non-aligned.
Protesters first gathered at the Senate Square in central Helsinki and began a march to the Hakaniemi Market Square at 3 pm. The march caused considerable disruption to city centre public transport and traffic.
The last of the kilometre-long mass of demonstrators reached Hakaniemi at about 4:30 pm. Music performers such as Kari Peitsamo and the band Lapinlahden linnut entertained the crowd there.
People travelled to the demonstration from all corners of Finland, after bus rides were organised by the Joukkovoima collective.
The movement last organised a demonstration in July of last year. The 2015 protest proceeded smoothly, with the police eventually apprehending nine individuals who had refused to stop blocking the road.
