Central government budget for 2024

Key points of the debate

The debate addressed the central government budget for 2024, curbing government debt, and the fairness of the proposed fiscal adjustment measures and tax decisions. The government parties considered spending cuts necessary to stabilise public finances, while the opposition opposed targeting savings at the most vulnerable and at wellbeing services counties. The budget proposal was highly controversial and sharply divided Parliament between the Government and the opposition.

• –Are the cuts targeted too heavily at low-income earners and social security?
• –Is tax policy that favours high earners fair and economically sustainable?
• –Is the funding received by wellbeing services counties and municipalities sufficient to organise basic services?

• National Coalition PartyIn favour

  The National Coalition Party considered adjusting central government finances and curbing debt accumulation necessary to preserve the welfare society. The group emphasised the importance of employment and growth measures as well as investments in security.

  ”Hallitus lähtee uudistamaan Suomea vasemmistohallituksen valtakauden jälkeen. Olemme saaneet perintönä mittavat alijäämät, raskaan velkalastin ja tekemättömät reformit.”

• Finns PartyIn favour

  The Finns Party considered that the Government was setting central government finances on the right track and prioritising expenditure. The group commended, among other things, investments in security, fuel tax cuts, and cuts to development aid.

  ”Keltaisiin kansiin on nivottu tämän hallituksen ensimmäinen voimannäyte, tulevan vuoden talousarvioesitys, jonka otsikko on muuten vielä aikanaan ollut ”Rahasääntö”.”

• Swedish People's PartyIn favour

  The Swedish People's Party supported the budget and stressed that balancing public finances secures the future of the Nordic welfare society. The group considered investments in education, security, and the green transition to be essential.

  ”Vakaa julkinen talous on edellytys sille, että voimme turvata palvelut myös tulevaisuudessa ja että Suomi säilyy jatkossakin pohjoismaisena hyvinvointiyhteiskuntana.”

• Christian DemocratsIn favour

  The Christian Democrats supported the Government's economic policy and considered the savings decisions necessary responsible action to break prolonged debt accumulation.

  ”Oma sukupolveni on saanut elää jatkuvaa hyvinvoinnin ja talouskasvun aikaa. Sen takana on ollut elämän tärkeitä perusarvoja ja -asioita.”

• Social DemocratsAgainst

  The Social Democrats opposed the proposal because government debt accumulation remains high while adjustment measures weaken the livelihood of low-income earners. The group criticised tax cuts for high-income earners and cuts to services.

  ”Kysymys on suurista alijäämistä ja valtionvelasta, mutta myös työllisyyden ja kasvun näkymämme ovat kääntymässä heikoiksi verrattuna keskeisiin kilpailijamaihimme.”

• Centre PartyAgainst

  The Centre Party opposed the budget because it considered that the Government was cutting too much from wellbeing services counties and creating regional inequality across Finland. The group called for finances to be put in order more fairly and with the whole country taken into account.

  ”Valitettavasti nyt näyttää siltä, että hallituksen toimet lisäävät eriarvoisuutta ihmisten ja alueiden välillä.”

• GreensAgainst

  The Greens opposed the budget because it increases inequality by cutting from the most vulnerable, children, and young people, and weakens the protection of the climate and nature.

  ”Minä, kuten varmasti moni muukin teistä, saan jatkuvasti yhteydenottoja kansalaisilta hallituksen leikkausten kohdentumisesta.”

• Left AllianceAgainst

  The Left Alliance condemned the Government's line as right-wing class politics that cuts heavily from low-income earners while cutting taxes for the wealthy. According to the group, the proposal increases inequality and does not stop debt accumulation.

  ”Velkaantuminen lisääntyy, vaikka hallitus leikkaa rajusti pienituloisten toimeentulosta.”

• Movement NowAgainst

  Movement Now criticised the Government's budget and doubted whether the Government's measures and employment targets would be sufficient to fix the extensive problems of public finances in a recession.

  ”Orpon hallituksen ensimmäinen budjetti herättää paljon isoja kysymyksiä.”

This digest was generated by AI from 1185 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.