Finland is leaving door open for water supply privatisation, warn activists, opposition members

Pinja Perholehto (SDP) had the floor during a plenary session in the Finnish Parliment on 5 June 2024. Perholehto is one of many oppositoin lawmakers who have voiced their alarm about the wording of a government bill for prohibiting the privatisation of the water supply, warning that it leaves the door open for investors buying into municipal water companies. (Vesa Moilanen – Lehtikuva)

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A GOVERNMENT BILL for precluding the privatisation of water supply has come under criticism from the ranks of the opposition.

Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday reported that the authors of the citizens’ initiative that set off the legislative project are disappointed with the approach the government has taken to implementation. The government bill stipulates that municipalities must not relinquish control over their water supply or wholesale water supply facilities, a wording the authors believe leaves the door open for outside investors.

“We don’t think this aligns with the spirit of the initiative. This is surprising because the initiative was approved unanimously in parliament and got positive statements from parliamentary parties,” Joona Mielonen from Kotka said to Helsingin Sanomat.

The initiative had received almost 89,200 statements of support from the public prior to winning over parliament in 2021.

Also opposition lawmakers have voiced their concern that the bill could enable outside investors to acquire stakes of up to 49.9 per cent in municipal water companies, according to the newspaper. Pinja Perholehto (SDP) on Sunday said Finland can under no circumstances take the risk of allowing investors to make decisions about its water re

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi