Hjallis Harkimo’s brother Roy Harkimo has cancer. Hjallis says that he is afraid of loss, because it is a tough place.
The chairman of Liike Nyt, Hjallis Harkimo, 71, has had an eventful and partly difficult year.
Hjallis lost his mother Doris Harkimon on Boxing Day 2023. There was no time to mourn, because the presidential election campaign was in full swing. Hjallis just had to cope. After the elections, parliamentary work continued.
In the spring, big changes happened in Hjallis’s life when his common-law partner Jasmine Pajari moved to Hjallis in Sipoo. In the summer, the couple had time to enjoy a short summer vacation together, but the work continued again in the fall. Before Christmas, the parliament wants to complete everything possible.
– This has been a really difficult year. There is enough work. There is not much time to do your own Christmas preparations. We finish work on Friday, so then we have a few days to make and prepare for Christmas, Hjallis describes.
Hjallis Harkimo has had a difficult year behind him. Inka Soveri
Fear of loss
The year has also been overshadowed by the illness of Hjallis’ brother. Turning 70 next year Roy Harkimo has cancer. Roy’s illness is constantly on Hjallis’ mind, also at work.
– He is in really bad shape. Fortunately, he lives next door to us, says Hjallis, becoming sensitive.
Hjallis says that he visits his brother every morning. The meeting is important for both Roy and Hjallis himself.
– Our morning routine is that we hang out for a couple of hours every morning. Fortunately, it has succeeded quite well. We eat morning porridge together, Hjallis continues.
– We have always been close and even neighbors. He lives a couple of hundred meters from me. Our sister and Amanda [Harkimo, Royn tytär] live there too, he adds.
In the picture on the left, brother Roy, mother Doris and on the right Hjallis’ sons Leo, Dan and Joel. Photo from 2016. Jussi Eskola
It’s hard for Hjallis to talk about Roy’s illness and the death of their mother. The brothers are only one and a half years apart in age, Roy is Hjallis’ younger brother.
Hjallis wipes the corners of his eyes as he remembers his mother.
– It feels a bit like I haven’t handled my mother’s death properly yet. And now there is new sorrow. It’s quite difficult to talk about this, Hjallis describes.
– Of course, it’s the fear of loss. It is the worst thing that can happen when you lose your loved ones. Loss is a hard place, Hjallis continues.
Last year, the Harkimos did not celebrate Christmas as usual because of Doris’ passing. This year the family spends Christmas at Roy’s place. Everyone’s children and spouses are there.
– Of course we try to be happy at Christmas. That’s why we spend Christmas at my brother’s place, so we can be happy. There’s his kid and my kid there, and of course Jasmine.
Hjallis admits that he has not fully processed his mother’s death. Inka Soveri
Although there are many difficulties in life, Hjallis says that he can cope “just fine”. He is most grateful for the support he gets from home.
– Jasmine supports me and I can talk to her about everything. It helps me. Of course, the boys also support, Hjallis describes.
Pajari makes sure that Hjallis doesn’t work all the time. Hjallis admits that without Pajar he would hang on the phone constantly and only talk about politics.
– Jasmine tells me why I have to take time off and what not to do. He gives rhythm to my life so that I don’t have to work all the time. I have certain free times so that I can relax, Hjallis says.
Hjallis turned 71 in November. He is in good shape, but it needs to be taken care of. Hjallis has noticed that recovery from campaigns and big work projects no longer happens in an instant, but can take several days or even weeks.
– I should be able to schedule things better. In that, Jasmine is better than me, because I would work like crazy until I passed out. Fortunately, Jasmine is helping me.
– I do exercise a lot and I try to take care of my health and weight. Otherwise, there’s no way I could handle this. I go through the doctor’s tests three times a year and there has been nothing.
Hjallis Harkimo is grateful for Jasmine Pajar’s care. Jenni Gästgivar
Fair chance
Hjallis believes that Liike Nyti has a lot to contribute to Finnish politics in the next year. In Hjallis’ opinion, Finns currently do not even fully understand how bad things are.
– Poverty is increasing, child poverty is increasing, the economy is not getting any traction and then politics will be done in the same way as it has been done for the last 15 years. No one understands that quite big changes should be made here if we are going to get through this. We’re just slipping in a worse and worse direction all the time, Hjallis reckons.
– I see that we have [Liike Nytillä] there are good opportunities because we have different ideas and ways to solve these economic problems. They are nothing amazing either, they have been imitated from Sweden and other countries. But they are still a big translation for Finland. I believe we have a big chance, Hjallis continues.
Iltalehti reported at the beginning of December that Liike Nyti’s ranks are cracking. Several municipal councilors have resigned from the party during this council term, and many of them have joined the coalition.
Helsingin Sanomat published on Wednesday, December 18, according to a recent poll, Liike Nyti’s parliamentary election support is 2.5 percent.
How is Liike Nyti doing at the moment?
– It’s fine. Of course, this is challenging for all parties to recruit people, when you see what politics is like today and what is happening in politics. However, we have a young party, so we have to work hard to get good candidates. However, we are already used to it and it is the same in every election, Hjallis concludes.
Harkimo believes that Liike Nyti has good opportunities to solve Finland’s financial problems. Inka Soveri