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Sun, 27 Apr, 2014 12:07:54 AM Sipilä suggests govt to take new programme from June FTimes-STT Report, April 27  Centre party Chairman Juha Sipilä speaks at party's Executive Committee meeting on Saturday. Photo – Lehtikuva. Chairman of the opposition Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party) Juha Sipilä on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen for his remarks on Finland’s stance on joining NATO.
The prime minister in an interview on April 12 said he believed that Finland should seek NATO membership.
Speaking at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting, Sipilä also suggested that the five-party alliance government should launch a new programme to resolve the unemployment crisis after the new prime minister takes over in June.
Earlier, Katainen announced that he would quit as the chairperson of the Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) and as the prime minister as well after the party council this summer.
The prime minister should not send any message to the world which is against his government’s programmes at the time of crisis, said the Keskusta chairman.
He said, “If Finland decides to apply for (NATO) membership, it must be done through a referendum.”
In a sharp reaction to the remarks of the prime minister, Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said the country does not need NATO membership.
The Centre Party chairman also said if new programme is not taken, the country would fail to face unemployment and achieve growth.
Sipilä wanted a solution from the social organizations for increasing the age of retirement.
Finland is one of the few European countries that are yet to increase the retirement age, he said, adding that this requires creation of new jobs.
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