Antti Rinne (SDP), the newly-appointed Minister of Finance, stated on Wednesday that the Government must lay out other stimulus measures in addition to its 600 million euro stimulus package.
“We need solutions that can be carried out immediately and that create jobs fast,” Rinne said at the Finnish Parliament.
“The Government agreed on a 600 million euro growth package in its framework budget. That's a good start, but I doubt it's enough. We need another growth package. We can find new, effective measures in residential and transport infrastructure construction,” the minister viewed.
“The emphasis in the extraordinary government talks will be on putting together this growth package,” he promised.
In addition, Rinne insisted that the Government must, if necessary, be prepared to re-consider and revise its earlier decisions. “Their impacts must be evaluated and analysed thoroughly from the viewpoint of families, for example” he viewed.
The speech of Rinne was met with excitement but also raised questions among the ranks of the Centre, with Mari Kiviniemi reminding that the Parliament Finance Committee only found little leeway within the framework budget. “If you want a decent package, you must make cuts and move the funds elsewhere. Those are big decisions,” she stated.
Throughout the session, the National Coalition and the Social Democrats continued their wrangle over whether or not the Government should revise its budgetary framework and borrow to step up its stimulus effort.
Mauri Pekkarinen (Centre) called attention to the divide between the views of Rinne and the departing Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen (NCP), who on Wednesday was adamant that the framework would not be revisited.
Teija Sutinen – HS
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
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Photo: Mikko Stig / Lehtikuva
