Finland Times

Keskusta lawmaker Sirkka-Liisa Anttila in a plenary session in parliament.File Photo – Lehtikuva.

The Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party) and Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) lawmakers have criticised the election promise made by Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland)-SDP’s Antti Rinne and termed it as misleading.

Rinne told news agency STT that his party has no intention of cutting pension indices, if SDP is in the next government.

Centre Party MP Sirkka-Liisa Anttila and Finns Party legislator Hanna Mäntylä said SDP was part of the government which at the end of last year decreased the pension index from 1.1 percent to 0.4 percent.

In a statement, Mäntylä said it is easy to say after undertaking such a decision that no cuts will be made when there is nothing left to cut.

In a quick rejoinder, SDP deputy chair Antti Lindtman defended the party leader.

"Despite fierce opposition pension income deduction driven by Finance Minister Rinne came into force this month," said Lindtman in a statement.

Lindtman asked the opposition for answers on how they would improve the income of pensioners and adjust the economy.