Fifth supplementary budget for 2020

Key points of the debate

The debate addressed the fifth supplementary budget for 2020, which updated revenue estimates, reduced the borrowing requirement, and allocated appropriations to items including epidemic compensation for social assistance and renewable energy subsidies. The government parties considered the measures timely and responsible in order to help the most vulnerable and businesses. The opposition largely approved the increases in appropriations, but sharply criticised the proposal and the Government's economic policy for lacking employment measures and poorly targeting support.

• –Should the temporary epidemic compensation for social assistance have been targeted on a discretionary basis?
• –Should the economy be stimulated through public spending or by lowering taxes on labour and entrepreneurship?
• –Did the Government take sufficient, effective employment and structural reform measures to balance public finances?

• Social DemocratsIn favour

  The SDP emphasised that Finland had weathered the first phase of the coronavirus crisis better than peer countries, which made it possible to reduce borrowing needs. The group considered the epidemic compensation and the targeting of other support measures to secure people's daily lives to be essential.

  ”Suomen vauriot ainakin ensi vaiheessa ovat olleet Euroopan pienimmät, ja sen vuoksi nyt velkaantuminen pienenee toista miljardia, tuloarviot nousevat pari miljardia.”

• Centre PartyIn favour

  The Centre Party considered the supplementary budget a responsible demonstration that the economy and health policy had withstood the crisis better than anticipated. The group strongly supported assisting the most vulnerable, municipalities, and agricultural and bioeconomy enterprises under exceptional circumstances.

  ”Parasta talouspolitiikkaa tänä syksynä ovat kaikki koronan torjuntatoimet ja toisen aallon ehkäiseminen ja hoitaminen.”

• GreensIn favour

  The Greens considered the bill's social support, such as the temporary increase in social assistance, necessary to help the most vulnerable. In addition, the group stressed stimulating the economy on the terms of climate action and a sustainable transition.

  ”Meillä on ihmisiä, joilta puuttuu leipä pöydästä koronan takia, ja tähän se toimeentulotuen koronakorotus pureutuu.”

• Left AllianceIn favour

  The Left Alliance considered the proposal to provide important support for low-income earners and stressed that ordinary citizens must not be made to pay the costs of the crisis. The group defended spending-led stimulus and considered strengthening social security to be the best way to secure livelihoods.

  ”75 euron korotus henkilöä kohden toimeentulotukeen on merkittävä ja auttaa monenlaisissa elämäntilanteissa olevia tavallisia ihmisiä.”

• Swedish People's PartyIn favour

  The SPP supported the bill's appropriations and considered the supplementary budget to be an appropriate and necessary balancing measure. The group emphasised the state's ability to react swiftly to the crisis and target assistance to those in need.

  ”Tämän vuoden aikana olemme saaneet muistutuksen siitä, miten tärkeää on, että valtio pystyy toimimaan nopeasti ja kohdentamaan varoja sinne, missä niitä tarvitaan.”

• National Coalition PartyIn favour with reservations

  The NCP did not oppose the proposed acute appropriations, but criticised the Government for neglecting the financial base of the economy and omitting employment measures. The group demanded tax cuts on labour and entrepreneurship as well as structural reforms rather than merely taking on debt.

  ”Meidän kritiikin ydin on siinä, että samanaikaisesti hallitus ei ole kuitenkaan lainkaan ollut kiinnostunut siitä, millä nämä kaikki lisämenot rahoitetaan.”

• Finns PartyIn favour with reservations

  The Finns Party criticised the targeting of the Government's forms of support and considered the general coronavirus supplement to social assistance poorly justified. The group took the view that the support should have been allocated through municipal discretion directly to those suffering from the coronavirus, Finnish citizens, and families with children.

  ”Tämä toimeentulotuen koronalisä on harhaanjohtavasti nimetty ja perusteltu, koska se ei kohdistu erityisesti ihmisiin tai perheisiin, joille epidemia on aiheuttanut ylimääräisiä kustannuksia.”

• Christian DemocratsIn favour with reservations

  The Christian Democrats considered the supplementary budget's individual appropriations and support measures necessary, but were disappointed by the lack of effective employment and structural measures. The group demanded immediate measures to improve business conditions and employment.

  ”Kristillisdemokraattien kritiikki tätäkään lisätalousarviota kohtaan ei ole yksittäisten määrärahalisäysten kohdalla, joissa on sinällänsä ihan tarpeellisia ja hyviä asioita”

This digest was generated by AI from 159 speeches 13 Sep 2026. Group positions are read from the speeches, not from votes; quotations were checked verbatim against the record. The longest speeches were shortened in the digest's source material.