Second supplementary budget for 2020

Key points of the debate

The debate addressed an exceptionally large supplementary budget supporting healthcare, businesses, municipalities and citizens' livelihoods during the coronavirus crisis. All parliamentary groups considered the substantial additional funding and acute crisis relief essential. However, opposition representatives criticised the criteria for distributing business subsidies and the funding for coronavirus testing, and submitted their own dissenting opinions.

• –How should the distribution and criteria of business subsidies be organised in an acute crisis?
• –Should a separate additional appropriation be allocated to coronavirus testing and contact tracing?
• –Are the support measures directed at municipalities and organisations sufficient?

• Social DemocratsIn favour

  The Social Democrats took the view that the costs of the crisis must be borne together and that the state must act as an economic buffer. The group emphasised protecting people's health and basic livelihood, as well as the fair allocation of business subsidies.

  ”On erittäin tärkeää, että hallitus on sitoutunut turvaamaan suomalaisten hyvinvoinnin ja yritysten selviytymisen koronaviruksen aiheuttaman kriisin yli mahdollisimman vähäisin inhimillisin ja taloudellisin vahingoin”

• Centre PartyIn favour

  The Centre Party considered the supplementary budget an essential bridge over the coronavirus crisis to safeguard healthcare, livelihoods and business operations. The group supported massive investments in businesses and considered it important that rural entrepreneurs also receive support.

  ”Lainaa otamme tämän päivän päätöksillä edelleen lisää myös yritysten kantamiseksi kriisin yli: yritystukien määrä kasvaa jälleen liki miljardilla eurolla.”

• GreensIn favour

  The Greens considered the historically large investment essential to rescue people's livelihoods, municipal services, culture and businesses. The group stressed that no one should be left without support during the crisis.

  ”Kaikille halutaan turvata perustoimeentulo. Sosiaaliturvassa olevia aukkoja tukitaan sitä mukaa, kun niitä tulee ilmi.”

• Left AllianceIn favour

  The Left Alliance supported the supplementary budget and stressed that the mistakes or cuts of the 1990s recession must not be repeated. In the group's view, the costs of the crisis must not be passed on to ordinary people.

  ”Hallitus puolustaa lisätalousarviolla työpaikkoja ja panostaa kriisin keskellä ihmisten hyvinvointiin ja lapsiperheiden tukemiseen.”

• Swedish People's PartyIn favour

  The Swedish People's Party considered the exceptionally extensive supplementary budget essential to safeguard businesses, jobs and the everyday lives of families in a crisis situation.

  ”Nyt on tehtävä kaikki mahdollinen suomalaisten yritysten ja työpaikkojen pelastamiseksi.”

• National Coalition PartyIn favour with reservations

  The National Coalition Party considered the general line of the supplementary budget justified, but proposed additional funding for coronavirus testing, direct support for restaurants, and value added tax (VAT) refunds. The group criticised the development-grant-based business support model for being too slow and bureaucratic.

  ”Hallituksen nyt käsittelyssä oleva toinen lisätalousarvio keskittyy koronatilanteen aiheuttamiin lisätarpeisiin ja on pääpiirteissään perusteltu.”

• Finns PartyIn favour with reservations

  The Finns Party considered the funding allocated to coronavirus measures necessary, but demanded cuts to secondary central government spending and criticised the conditions and distribution methods of business subsidies. The group put forward several specifications in its own dissenting opinion.

  ”Tämä lisätalousarvioesitys on tarpeellinen, siitä me kaikki 200 kansanedustajaa olemme varmasti samaa mieltä.”

• Christian DemocratsIn favour with reservations

  The Christian Democrats supported the general line of the proposal, but proposed additional investments in healthcare testing and in supporting organisations in the health and social services sector.

  ”Vuoden toinen lisätalousarvio jatkaa akuutin kriisin hoitamiseen vastaamista. Kristillisdemokraattinen eduskuntaryhmä pääasiallisesti tukee näitä hallituksen esityksiä.”

This digest was generated by AI from 103 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.