True Finns expect EU bailout changes
Source: Agencies |
April 19, 2011, Tuesday
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THE True Finns, the anti-euro party voted into a powerful role in the Helsinki parliament at the weekend, expect the European Union to change plans for a bailout of Portugal, its leader said yesterday.
"Of course there will have to be changes," Timo Soini told reporters a day after his party more than quadrupled its share of the vote to turn Finland's traditionally pro-EU politics on their head by finishing a close third in the election.
Soini said he expected to hear this week about joining talks on forming a coalition. The centre-right National Coalition, which came top with 20.4 percent, should launch negotiations under its leader, the outgoing Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen.
It remains unclear how far a new coalition, which may take weeks to form, will incorporate True Finns ministers or their views on EU help for heavily indebted member states. But the rise of the True Finns seems likely to shift the debate.
"This is a big, big bang in Finnish politics. This is a big, big change. This will change the content of Finnish politics," Jan Sundberg, professor at the University of Helsinki, said.
Finland's parliament, unlike others in the euro zone, has the right to vote on EU requests for bailout funds, meaning it could hold up costly plans to shore up Portugal and bring stability to debt markets.
The strong showing for the populist True Finns reflects growing public frustration in some EU states about footing the bill for weaker economies such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal.
The party got 19.0 percent, according to compared to 4.1 percent in 2007, which means it is likely to be involved in talks on forming a government. The opposition Social Democrats, who support the EU but dislike current plans to aid Portugal, won 19.1 percent and are also likely to join government talks.
Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi's Centre Party, hit by a political funding scandal in recent years, suffered the biggest setback, dropping to just 15.8 percent of the vote from 23.1 percent in 2007. She said it would go into opposition.
Soini predicted the next government coalition would consist of the three biggest parties, and possibly a few others.
"We need a majority government. That seems to require maybe the three biggest parties. If that doesn't work, then maybe it will be a four to five parties government," he told reporters.
Analysts expect a new government to be formed by mid-to late May.
Anxiety over unemployment and pension cutbacks also boosted support for the True Finns, who have a conservative social agenda but lean to the left on social welfare.
Finland's recent rebound from the global financial crisis has done little to boost the number of jobs. Its flagship company, Nokia, is struggling to compete with Apple Inc and Asian handset makers, and is expected to cut jobs soon.
"Of course there will have to be changes," Timo Soini told reporters a day after his party more than quadrupled its share of the vote to turn Finland's traditionally pro-EU politics on their head by finishing a close third in the election.
Soini said he expected to hear this week about joining talks on forming a coalition. The centre-right National Coalition, which came top with 20.4 percent, should launch negotiations under its leader, the outgoing Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen.
It remains unclear how far a new coalition, which may take weeks to form, will incorporate True Finns ministers or their views on EU help for heavily indebted member states. But the rise of the True Finns seems likely to shift the debate.
"This is a big, big bang in Finnish politics. This is a big, big change. This will change the content of Finnish politics," Jan Sundberg, professor at the University of Helsinki, said.
Finland's parliament, unlike others in the euro zone, has the right to vote on EU requests for bailout funds, meaning it could hold up costly plans to shore up Portugal and bring stability to debt markets.
The strong showing for the populist True Finns reflects growing public frustration in some EU states about footing the bill for weaker economies such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal.
The party got 19.0 percent, according to compared to 4.1 percent in 2007, which means it is likely to be involved in talks on forming a government. The opposition Social Democrats, who support the EU but dislike current plans to aid Portugal, won 19.1 percent and are also likely to join government talks.
Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi's Centre Party, hit by a political funding scandal in recent years, suffered the biggest setback, dropping to just 15.8 percent of the vote from 23.1 percent in 2007. She said it would go into opposition.
Soini predicted the next government coalition would consist of the three biggest parties, and possibly a few others.
"We need a majority government. That seems to require maybe the three biggest parties. If that doesn't work, then maybe it will be a four to five parties government," he told reporters.
Analysts expect a new government to be formed by mid-to late May.
Anxiety over unemployment and pension cutbacks also boosted support for the True Finns, who have a conservative social agenda but lean to the left on social welfare.
Finland's recent rebound from the global financial crisis has done little to boost the number of jobs. Its flagship company, Nokia, is struggling to compete with Apple Inc and Asian handset makers, and is expected to cut jobs soon.
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