Parliament passes bills cutting social, housing benefits

The parliament on Tuesday passed two bills placed by the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) led four-party alliance right-wing government with the view to cut social supports and housing benefits for the low-income people.

The bill proposed amendment to the social supports law was passed by 118-58 votes while the proposed amendment to the housing benefit law was passed by 99-79 votes, said the parliament in a press release.

Meanwhile, a group of people staged demonstration in the parliament protesting against the government´s proposed cuts when the lawmakers were speaking on the bills.

The audiences from the public gallery staged the demonstration during the session in the House and threw fake notes of euros promoting the Speaker to adjourn the session.

The protesters bearing banner with the slogan “Miljonäärit leikkausten puolesta (Millionaires support cuts) threw the notes at the lawmakers.

The security personnel removed the agitated people from the gallery to bring the situation under control and the session was resumed after a short while and the lawmakers cast votes on the bills.

The four political parties-Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP), radical rightist Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), Suomenruotsalainenkansanpuolue (Swedish People’s Party of Finland-RKP) and the SuomenKristillisdemokraatit (Christian Democrats of Finland-CD) on June 16 announced the government programme which included austerity measures and tougher immigration.

The government’s decision created widespread controversy and people from different strata across the country including students protested it.

Leaders of the conservative Kokoomus, radical rightist Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), Suomenruotsalainenkansanpuolue (Swedish People’s Party of Finland-RKP) and the SuomenKristillisdemokraatit (Christian Democrats of Finland-CD) on June 16, 2023 published the program of the alliance government with the view to reshape economy.

The cuts include €2.05 billion in social and healthcare services and €1.2 billion in social security and benefits.

Leaders of the opposition parties strongly criticized the government for bringing the basic sectors under the austerity measures.

The cuts planned by the present four-party alliance right-wing government will hit everyone and society will pay the price, according to Anne Kouvonen, Professor of Social Policy at the University of Helsinki.