New parliament term: Here's the top priorities for Finland's political parties

The new term of the Finnish Parliament - Eduskunta - starts next week and Finland Insider reached out to the Parliamentary Group leaders to find out what the biggest priorities are for their parties in the coming months.

Some of the government’s agenda for parliament is already set, with an update expected very soon. In general, it is up to Prime Minister Orpo’s government to decide when to deliver their own policy proposals to parliament. Once the proposal is there, the timing of the next steps like committee discussions and drafting, or a debate or vote in the plenary, is in the hands of the parliament’s own bureaucracy and subject to all sorts of factors.

As we have seen recently, some new laws can be fast-tracked if there’s the political will to do it - for example the new law to be able to turn back migrants at the eastern border on security grounds. On the other hand, some laws can languish for months or even years, like the long-delayed Sámi Parliament Act, to name just one.

One of the biggest annual events for the autumn session of parliament is the government’s new budget proposals, which take up a significant amount of time each year.

So do the biggest political parties already see areas where they can push their own policy agendas more, whether in government or as part of the opposition, or are there perhaps areas where they could cooperate with other parties?

Here’s what the politicians had to say:

Matias Marttinen, National Coalition Party

“The most important thing for the Coalition Group in Parliament in the coming autumn session is the determined implementation of the government programme.

“Correcting the serious situation of the Finnish economy remains at the centre of our policy. Already in the first year, the Government has agreed on a total adjustment of €9 billion to public finances, including €3 billion in new additional measures in last spring's framework debate.

“Now the additional adjustment measures agreed in the ring-fencing round must be translated into next year's budget and line items.

“In addition to savings, we also need to look to economic growth. That is why one of the most important issues for the autumn is the government's reforms of the labour market to support economic growth.

In the coming autumn, we will bring the labour market back one step closer to 2020 and the overall Nordic level. The reform of local agreements, which will be discussed in the autumn, is one of the most important legislative proposals of this parliamentary term. The reform will extend the possibilities for local agreements to companies that are not members of an employers' association.”

Nasima Razmyar, Social Democrats

"The government's austerity measures are becoming a reality, and unfortunately, this is affecting people's daily lives. As a result, the decline in support for the Finns Party continues.

“The social and healthcare sectors are facing serious challenges, with people unable to access the care they need - a situation that is unlikely to improve quickly. This is fundamentally a matter of basic rights for SDP. We need to find common solutions to address this situation, and we will undoubtedly discuss it more extensively in the Parliament as we approach the regional and municipal elections.

“We also plan to challenge the government on its lacklustre environmental and climate policies, which have been overshadowed by other major issues.

“Moreover, the labour market situation remains difficult. Measures to improve workforce availability and work-based immigration have yet to be fully implemented, and Finland's international reputation is suffering as a result. The government needs to fully change its course on this matter."

Antti Kurvinen, Centre Party

“The Centre Party will definitely challenge Orpo's government on the economy and social and healthcare.

“Finland's financial situation is getting worse under the right-wing coalition. Both public debt and budget deficit and also competitiveness of our industries and enterprises is worrying us.

“We see that the government is not doing enough to generate proper economic growth.

“The situation in the social and health care services needs attention. We are against budget cuts to the new welfare regions. We would like to implement some practical solutions to save money in welfare regions and shorten queues to the services. Unfortunately, the government has closed its ears to our ideas.”

Atte Harjanne, Green

“I'd say the most important for Vihreät is to provide an ecologically sound and societally just alternative for the economic policies proposed by the government.

“I expect though debates on nature, climate and immigration as well, and in these I think pressuring the government to drop the stupidest initiatives or correct the course a bit is possible.

“I expect the opposition parties to work largely independently (each of us is preparing their shadow budget) but I hope to see co-operation for example regarding immigration and labour market policies.

“We have been closely co-operating with SDP and Left Alliance, but are open to collaborate more with the Centre Party as well.”

Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, Left Alliance

“I believe that this fall The Left Alliance will focus its opposition politics particularly on the government's cuts to social security and healthcare, as well as on the deterioration of working conditions.

“Poor employment growth and the failure of the government's healthcare policy, which favours private companies, are likely to create challenges for the government.

“As a specific issue, the so-called three-month rule and other tightening measures in immigration policy already seem to be causing discord within the government.

“For the left, it is also crucial to present an alternative economic policy, demonstrating that austerity favouring the wealthy is not necessary.

“The Left Alliance will pursue an independent opposition strategy, but depending on the issue, it will cooperate especially with the Social Democrats and the Greens, and sometimes even with the Centre Party.

The Finns Party, Christian Democrats and Swedish People’s Party did not respond to requests for comment.