Govt wins confidence motion in parliament

The five-party alliance government led by Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Friday won a confidence motion in the parliament brought by the opposition parties.

The government won the motion by 102 votes to 75, with 22 members of parliament (MPs) absent.

The vote of confidence was based on an interpellation question tabled by all four opposition parties on the government's economic and employment policies, reported Xinhua, quoting national broadcaster Yle.

Opposition parties had argued that the government's economic policy is irresponsible and failed to achieve the promised employment measures, Yle said.

During the debate, the government argued that it was not possible to adhere to the its original policy aims during the COVID-19 pandemic but said it would facilitate the creation of 80,000 new jobs by the end of the decade.

Finance Minister Matti Vanhanen said the government planned to stabilize Finland's public debt to 70 percent or 75 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of the decade.

Vanhanen argued that this ratio would be high but would still be among the lowest in the eurozone.