Raising the government borrowing authorisation
Government proposal to Parliament to amend the Government's borrowing authorisation
The Government's authorisation to raise central government debt will be increased from 125 billion euros to 150 billion euros. The amendment secures central government liquidity and prepares for the increased borrowing needs caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
- Status
- Passed
- Submitted
- 20 May 2020
- Latest event
- 18 Jun 2020
- Votes
- 0
- Speeches
- 16
- Statute
- 476/2020
- Source
- eduskunta.fi ↗
What is proposed
The maximum ceiling of the Government's borrowing authorisation is raised from 125 billion euros to 150 billion euros. At the same time, the maximum ceiling for short-term borrowing of up to 12 months is raised from 18 billion euros to 25 billion euros.
What it means
The change ensures sufficient room for manoeuvre for the central government to take on debt and manage cash flow as the economic situation weakens. The increase will enter into force on 1 July 2020 and does not directly affect the contents of the 2021 budget.
How Parliament voted
The bill passed without a vote – no MP proposed rejecting or amending it in plenary.
Debate in the chamber
What was argued and where each group stood, followed by MPs' speeches verbatim from the parliamentary record. Speeches are shown in their original language.
16 speeches · 2 debates
Key points of the debate
There was broad consensus in the debate that raising the central government borrowing authorisation is essential to cover expenditure caused by the coronavirus crisis and safeguard liquidity. Disagreement mainly concerned how quickly the economy should be consolidated after the crisis and when structural employment measures should begin. In addition, debate was held on the principles of the EU recovery instrument and each country's individual liability for debt.
- When should the consolidation of public finances and employment measures be launched?
- Should the EU recovery fund be based on loans and individual national liability rather than grants?
- Social DemocratsIn favour
Raising the authorisation is fully justified to protect health, jobs and people's livelihoods in the acute crisis and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth.
”Tämä lainanottovaltuuden nostaminen tässä tilanteessa on mielestäni täysin perusteltua.”
— Pia Viitanen - Centre PartyIn favour
Raising the borrowing authorisation is an essential measure to overcome the coronavirus crisis and secure central government liquidity in a low interest rate environment.
”Tämä valtionvelan lainanottovaltuuden nostaminen on tässä tilanteessa siinä mielessä rutiininomainen asia, että se on välttämätöntä, kun tiedämme, että tuo yläraja lähestyy.”
— Esko Kiviranta - National Coalition PartyIn favour with reservations
Raising the borrowing authorisation in the acute phase of the crisis is justified, but the Government should immediately begin preparing economic adjustment measures and employment reforms.
”Se on tietysti tärkeää, että näitä panostuksia nyt tehdään, jotta tämän kriisin vaikutuksia voidaan lieventää.”
— Matias Marttinen
This digest was generated by AI from 16 speeches 13 Sep 2026. Group positions are read from the speeches, not from votes; quotations were checked verbatim against the record.
Keskustelu päättyi. Asia lähetettiin valtiovarainvaliokuntaan.
Keskustelu päättyi. Eduskunta hyväksyi lainanottovaltuudet mietinnön mukaisina. Asian käsittely päättyi.
Stages of consideration
The bill's path from the preliminary debate to the decision, as recorded by Parliament.
- 20 May 2020Eduskuntakäsittelyn vireilletulo · Valtiovarainministeriö
- 28 May 2020Lähetekeskustelu · Täysistunto
- 16 Jun 2020Valiokunnan mietintö tai lausunto · valtiovarainvaliokunta
- 17 Jun 2020Ainoa käsittely · Täysistunto
- 17 Jun 2020Eduskunnan vastaus ja kirjelmä
Decisions by law proposal1
- Valtioneuvoston lainanottovaltuuden muuttaminenHyväksytty · 476/2020
Proposed law text
The law proposals in the bill as the Government presented them. The final act may differ after committee consideration.
The law text is shown in Finnish or Swedish from Parliament's official documents; it is not translated into English.
Main content of the bill (official)
The summary and title were produced with AI on 13 Sep 2026. They are not official documents – check the details in the original bill. The title and summaries are machine translations of the Finnish AI summaries. Speeches and quotations are always shown in their original language.