In English

HS International Edition 16.12.2011

Parliament raises doubts over cuts to police and military budgets

In spite of small increases seen in appropriations, the budget funding allocated to the Finnish police is inadequate.

      This was the opinion of representatives of the government parties and the opposition alike in a Parliamentary debate on Thursday over the administrative budget of the Ministry of the Interior.

      As a small addition, the Finance Committee slipped an extra EUR 2.6 million into the police’s budget for next year.

      “That money was much needed. It will allow us to hire around 50 more officers”, said Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen (Christ. Dem.).

      Next year, the police budget will increase by EUR three million, but during the following framework period from 2012-2015, spending on the police force will be reduced by EUR 28 million.

      Consequently, MPs Tuula Väätäinen (SDP) and Anne Holmlund (Nat. Coalition) wondered aloud in the chamber why there is always an inadequate amount of money budgeted for the basic operations of the police.

      “It's always the same thing, regardless of who is in the government”, Väätäinen commented.
     
In its programme, the government has committed to keeping the police budget unchanged.

      MP Pertti Hemmilä (Nat. Coalition Party) drew the conclusion that the government cannot possibly stick to this goal because of the cuts to the appropriations across the board in the 2012-2015 period.

      “That will be a challenge”, Räsänen admitted.

      The MPs paid special attention to the police presence and internal security issues in remote areas.

      Räsänen did her best to reassure the MPs that safety and security will not be compromised.

      “And of course this applies to Lapland as well”, was Räsänen’s answer to pointed queries by the Lapland MPs.

      The Finns Party (formerly the True Finns) representatives proposed that the Police budget be increased by EUR 20 million.

      The Centre Party, also in opposition, demanded that the funding issue be rectified in the first instance from next year’s supplementary budget.
     
From the Defence Ministry’s administrative sector budget, the government plans to cut EUR 46 million.

      Both of the opposition parties suggested that the money be returned to the budget, but this will not happen.

      Centre Party MP Eero Reijonen described the cuts as historic. “We are heading into the unknown”, he said.

      MP Tapani Tölli (Centre Party) was among several MPs who questioned whether the entire principle of regional defence is going to crumble when refresher courses for those who have completed their compulsory military service are also downsized.

      Minister of Defence Stefan Wallin (Swedish People’s Party) responded that the regional defence principle is fundamental to Finland’s defence strategy, and it that will be retained.

      According to Wallin, in an ideal situation around 20,000 reservists would take part in refresher courses each year. During this electoral term, however, the number will remain at only around 2,000 per year.

      “After the year 2015 we have to get back to the normal level.”

      Eero Reijonen as well as Jussi Niinistö (Finns Party) saw selective military service lurking already in the horizon, in which not all of a given age-cohort would be trained.

      “The general national defence duty will be maintained”, Wallin insisted in reply.

Helsingin Sanomat

HS International Edition 8.12.2011

Parliament passes law on readiness for emergency situations

True Finns have misgivings over decreased presidential authority

Parliament gave its final approval on Wednesday to legislation on readiness for crisis situations. The measure shifts power in times of crisis from the President to the government.

      Under new legislation, the implementation of the emergency measures is to take effect by a decree issued by the government. Under the old law, the President of the Republic issues the decree
     
Opposing the changes were MPs of the True Finns party.

      “Maintaining a certain amount of power with the President, who is directly elected by the people, is better for democracy and healthier, than concentrating power in the hands of one person – in practice, the Prime Minister, who is not directly elected by the people”, said True Finns MP Jussi Niinistö.

      A number of MPs felt that the concerns are exaggerated.

      “The President will continue to have a very significant role. If this kind of readiness law situation comes sometime, it will be Parliament that ultimately decides if the authority can be taken into use”, Green League MP Tuija Brax pointed out.
     
The aim of the new legislation is to keep the population secure in the event of a severe crisis, such as an armed attack against Finland, a major disaster, or an outbreak of a communicable disease.

      In the previous parliamentary term the Social Democrats were opposed to the wording of the bill, proposing instead that the implementation of the law should be decided by “The President of the Republic in cooperation with the government”.

      Now SDP MP Tuula Väätäinen said on Wednesday that authority to issue a decree for implementing the law should be given to the government, but that ”the president, who is elected by the people, should not be bypassed when the people face a serious crisis”.

Helsingin Sanomat