Finland Times

 

File picture of senior Vihreät leaders in parliament. Photo Lehtikuva.

The parliamentary group of Vihreät (Green League), a component of the ruling five-party alliance on Saturday accepted the government’s fiscal adjustment package amidst a strong debate.

 

The key subjects under critic were the cuts in development cooperation appropriations, child allowances and student aid, said a party leader, Mari Puoskari, after the meeting.

 

Although the leaders thought there would be a proposal for the Green League to quit the government, it did not happen in the meeting.

 

The party chief, also the environment minister, Ville Niinistö hoped that after resignation of the Left Alliance from the government, the alliance government should continue in its term with the original programme.

 

Earlier, Green League leaders threatened to quit the government if it took some programmes including setting up a nuclear power plant not included in its original agenda.

 

On March 25, the Vasemmistoliito (Left Alliance), one of the components of the then six-party alliance government resigned from the government following a dispute with the allies over the fiscal adjustment package in the budget.

 

The Green League chief, however, appreciated the overall consistency in government programmes. “In the government programs, the main principles are still very strong which promote sustainable economic growth, environmental protection and narrowing income gap,” Niinistö said, adding that structural reforms and economic decisions were sufficient to ensure that they were carried out in a fair manner.