Runar Karlsson

Runar Karlsson is a Finnish politician who served in the Parliament of Åland from 1999 to 2019, as a member of Åland Centre. He also served on and as chair of the Municipal Social Service and city council of Saltvik.

Runar Karlsson
Member of the Parliament of Åland
In office 1 November 1999 – 31 October 2019
Personal details
Party	Åland Centre

Career

Karlsson was elected to the Parliament of Åland in 1999, as a member of Åland Centre,^[1][2] and served until he declined to seek reelection in 2019.^[3] Karlsson was deputy group leader of Åland Centre until 2017, when Harry Jansson was elected to succeed him.^[4]

During Karlsson's tenure in parliament he has served as a member of the Industry, Finance, Culture, Social and Environment, Law and Culture, and Adjustment committees. He was a member of Åland's delegation to the Nordic Council from 2 September 2009 to 31 October 2011. He was a minister in the government of Åland from 2 December 1999 to 2 September 2009.^[5]

Karlsson was elected to the Municipal Social Service.^[6] In 2020, he was selected to become its chair.^[7] He chose to not seek reelection in 2024.^[6] Karlsson was elected to the city council of Saltvik^[8] and served as its chair.^[9][10] He did not seek reelection to the council in 2024.^[11]

Political positions

Karlsson supports autonomy for Åland.^[2] Karlsson has received the nickname "Roundabout-Runar" due to his proposals to create more roundabouts.^[12] He supported moving Åland from Eastern European Time to Central European Time.^[13]

In response to sexual abuse cases in Oulu, Karlsson posted on Facebook in 2019, writing that immigration should be restricted in order to prevent rape. He later retracted his comments and stated that he was not a racist.^[14]