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Opposition parties file separate no confidence motions in government over energy policy, Uniper

The interpellation questions relate to rising electricity prices as well as the government's handling of the problems facing majority-state-owned energy firm Fortum.

Perussuomalaisten eduskuntaryhmä, kristillisdemokraattinen eduskuntaryhmä ja Liike Nyt -eduskuntaryhmä jättivät hallitukselle välikysymyksen koskien energiamarkkinoita, sähkön hintaa ja hallituksen Fortum-politiikkaa 20. syyskuuta 2022.
From left to right, MP Harry Harkimo (MN), MP and Finns Party chair Riikka Purra, MP Ville Tavio (Finns), and Peter Östman (CD) at the announcement of one of the interpellation questions. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
  • Yle News

Finland's opposition parties have raised two separate interpellation questions with Parliament, which will lead to plenary debates as well as two votes of confidence in the government.

The Finns Party's interpellation relates to the government's handling of the ongoing energy crisis and the rising price of electricity, as well as how the governing coalition parties have dealt with the problems engulfing majority-state-owned energy firm Fortum.

Two smaller opposition parties — the Christian Democrats and Movement Now — have also signed the Finns Party's motion.

Finns Party chair Riikka Purra criticised the government for its mismanagement of the negotiations aimed at rescuing Fortum's subsidiary, the Germany-based gas company Uniper.

"We demand to know what information the government used to authorise Fortum's management to give Uniper a support package of at least 8 billion euros even before the Russian attack [on Ukraine]. Were impartial analysts consulted? Were Uniper's derivative risks known? And were Fortum's smaller shareholders kept informed, as required by the Limited Liabilities Companies Act," Purra said.

"At the same time, we demand to know the government's estimate of the maximum losses facing Uniper. How much will be borne by the taxpayer if all the risks go bust? These questions have still not been answered," she added.

NCP calls for confidence vote over Uniper policy

Separately, the National Coalition Party (NCP) has also filed an interpellation question over the government's handling of Uniper, saying the government's policy has failed.

The party however chose not to join the Finns Party's interpellation question, noting that it would prefer to focus on the situations facing Fortum and Uniper.

Chair of the NCP's parliamentary group Kai Mykkänen said that the government should be forced to save what is left of the Finnish taxpayer's Fortum assets.

Mykkäinen added that he believes the government has failed to safeguard Finland's national wealth.

"We suggested to the Finns Party that the interpellation should focus on this most acute issue, Uniper. However, this did not suit them. Uniper involves billions of Finnish national wealth - both state and private shareholders. The government must not accept that Germany treats a Finnish company so unfairly," Mykkänen said.

The latest motions of no confidence are the third and fourth interpellations filed by the opposition parties over the government's handling of certain issues since parliamentarians returned to work after the summer recess just over two weeks ago.