According to Finns Party chair Timo Soini, the opposition party is prepared to make sweeping cuts to roll back public spending. Speaking on Yle’s Aamu-tv breakfast programme Soini laid out the areas where he saw the greatest potential for saving a total of 1.5 to 2 billion euros – a figure somewhat smaller than the three billion in cuts proposed by the government.
Soini said that his proposal would not need to be larger as it would also reduce demand. The party chair laid out a bucket list of savings targets, but said he did not advocate a rapid adjustment timetable.
“It should be a bit here and there. The Finns Party has proposed that development aid would be one area, and then of course these large elements,” he added.
The large elements Soini referred to include the social and health care and education sectors, where the most money is spent.
“They must be touched one way or another,” he declared.
Soini also called for municipal and social and health care reform, areas where he felt big savings could be achieved, referring to the five-year retrenchment moratorium enjoyed by municipal workers as absurd.
In terms of social and health care reform Soini said he would pay particular attention to primary health care, which he felt could contribute to a reduction in the cost of specialist care.
"We cannot tie the hands of the next government"
The opposition party leader also had a view on whether or not the current administration should pro-rate its cost-cutting plan over separate government terms.
“Each government is responsible for its budget proposal and spending framework, but it cannot tie the hands of the subsequent government and parliament,” Soini said, referencing proposals to defer implementation of part of the current government’s adjustment plan to the next administrative term.
