Finland Times

The opposition expressed criticism mostly at the government’s planned cost cuts in education and for families with children.

The government, according to the chair of the Vihreä liitto (Green League), Ville Niinistö, is jeopardising the future, when it makes cuts which affect education and families with children, in addition to cuts on the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation-Tekes and research work.

“The future of this society is raised in families. These saving measures which the government has carried out on families with children and targeting the most disadvantaged section of the society are very costly instant loans for the future,” said Sari Essayah, the chair of the Suomen Kristillisdemokraatit (Christian Democrats of Finland).

The main opposition Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) called for urgent action to improve the unemployment situation in the country. SDP lawmaker Pia Viitanen in her address spoke of dangers of debt at a time when the government was taking more debt than its predecessor. “This budget has

deceived hopes and forgotten the budget promised during the elections,” said Viitanen.

Members of the ruling Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party) during their turn on the floor, however, emphasised the need for breaking the vicious cycle of unemployment and debt.

Keskusta member Antti Rantakangas referred to the recent Bank of Finland outlook which cited a poor economic growth, deplorable export figures and rise in unemployment which the central bank said was the fastest growing rate in Europe.

Rantakangas said the country can no longer afford to wait for another parliamentary term to take action, and that the decision should be made now or never.

Leaders of another ruling party, Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party), during their address said the existing and future public expenditure of the country cannot be financed by the current capacity of the terms of production and the existing structures.