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Wed, 15 Apr, 2015 02:02:15 AM Kokoomus, Keskusta at loggerheads over employment issue FTimes-STT Report, April 15  Political parties leaders at the discussion organised by a Finnish language daily Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday. Photo Lehtikuva. Leaders of the major political parties in the country have expressed desire to increase the defence budget appropriations in the next parliamentary term regardless of the international crises.
Debating during a panel test organised by the Finnish language daily Helsingin Sanomat, the leaders did not perceive Russia as a military threat and a reason for increasing the defence budget appropriations.
Similarly, the reaction of Russia to an op-ed text run by a Norwegian newspaper on deepened defence collaboration between Nordic countries was not seen as a reason of concern by the party bosses.
Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) chief Antti Rinne, also the finance minister, said the country needs a credible defence and the budget for modernisation of hardware in the army and air force should be increased.
The SDP leader’s sentiments were echoed by the chair of the Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (Swedish People’s Party of Finland), Carl Haglund, also the defence minister, who said the defence capability will decline without an increase in investment in hardware.
File Photo Lehtikuva. Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party) chief Juha Sipilä elaborated during the panel how he would integrate the Paasikivi-Kekkonen line in tandem with the country’s position in the European Union as the party’s foreign and security policy.
Sipilä does not see the two policies in conflict with each other and believes there is room for manoeuvre in relation to Russia.
Prime Minister and Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) Chair Alexander Stubb however believes the room for manoeuvre is limited. Stubb also dismissed Keskusta’s pledge to raise the employment rate by 75 per cent at the end of the next parliamentary term.
In his response, Sipilä asked Stubb why the Kokoomus would be critical of the Keskusta’s promise to create 200,000 new jobs in 10 years, whereas the Kokoomus’ employment rate target would translate to 191,000 new jobs in four years.
According to Stubb, the employment rate target is not to be achieved during the parliamentary term, but the Kokoomus estimates approximately new 130,000 jobs to be created.
The Helsingin Sanomat panel test also pressed the political party bosses on their views regarding taxation and areas of saving targets.
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| Thursday, 18 April, 2024 |
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