Chair of the Centre Party parliamentary group Antti Kurvinen, Chair of Movement Now Harry Harkimo, Centre Party Chair Antti Kaikkonen, SDP Chair Antti Lindtman, and SDP parliamentary group leader Tytti Tuppurainen at a press conference in Parliament in Helsinki on 20 May 2025. The topic of the opposition parties’ interpellation is the government’s record-high level of borrowing. Photo: Markku Ulander / Lehtikuva
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Finland’s Centre Party, Social Democrats and Movement Now have filed a joint motion of no confidence in Petteri Orpo’s (NCP) government, accusing it of failing to curb the country’s rising debt and betraying promises to restore economic balance.
The parties criticised the four-party ruling coalition for allowing public debt to reach record levels, despite pledging fiscal restraint when it took office in 2023.
“It seems that whenever the National Coalition Party is in charge, Finland ends up teetering on the edge of an economic abyss,” Antti Kaikkonen, leader of the Centre Party, said during a press conference in parliament. He cited similar patterns during the governments of Harri Holkeri and Jyrki Katainen.
The Centre Party was joined by Antti Lindtman’s Social Democrats and Harry Harkimo’s Movement Now in submitting the motion. Together, they represent a significant bloc in opposition, though they do not hold enough seats to unseat the government without support from other parties.
Lindtman said the scale of new debt contradicts the government’s rhetoric.
“The Orpo–Purra government is taking on more debt than any of its predecessors. This demands a clear response from parliament,” he said.
The current administration, led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) and Finance Minister Riikka Purra (Finns), has pushed through a series of austerity measures. But the opposition argues the cuts have failed to reduce debt, while simultaneously hurting lower and middle-income citizens.
Harkimo, representing the liberal-conservative Movement Now, said the government’s tax reforms have benefited the wealthy at the expense of small businesses and self-employed workers.
“I’m a supporter of the market economy, but these tax cuts went too far,” he said.
The motion follows weeks of political tension over the spring budget session. While the government announced adjustments intended to reduce the deficit, critics say the measures are inadequate and poorly targeted.
Although the Left Alliance and Green Party did not join the formal no-confidence motion, Sofia Virta’s Greens submitted a separate declaration expressing concern over the government’s policies and public spending levels.
The filing of the no-confidence motion triggers a debate and subsequent vote in the Finnish Parliament. A simple majority is needed to topple the government, which currently holds 108 seats in the 200-member chamber. The opposition controls 91.
The vote is expected later this week. The government has not publicly responded to the motion.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
