The Centre Party tabled its bill on the reform of the Act on the Sámi Parliament for a second time during an emergency session of government during Sunday evening.
The bill on the was initially scheduled to be submitted to Parliament last Thursday following a government meeting, but it stalled due to the Centre Party's concerns over the legislation's contents. At the session, the Centre demanded that the law be tabled.
Annika Saarikko, the Centre Party's chair, also announced on Thursday that her party does not support the bill.
Centre Party ministers were given an additional two days to study the proposed law.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) said at the time that she was ready to convene an extraordinary government session during the weekend.
Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson (SPP) told Yle about the situation.
"Minister [of Defence] Antti Kaikkonen (Cen) asked for the papers and the matter remained tabled."
Henriksson also tweeted about the matter immediately after the cabinet meeting. The session lasted only five minutes.
"A new Sámi parliament act is needed to safeguard the rights of the Sámi people. Today it has already been tabled for the second time by the Centre Party in the Council of State session. I will work hard to submit the bill to Parliament next week," Henriksson wrote on Twitter.
The United Nations criticised Finland in 2019 and again last June over its handling of the Sámi Parliament (Sámediggi), specifically rules on who can be included in the body's electoral roll. The Sámi Parliament has raised concerns over the right to self-determination, arguing that the indigenous body must be allowed to independently decide who is eligible to take part in its activities.
The Sámediggi estimates that Finland is home to about 10,000 Sámi, the only indigenous people within the European Union Area.
Rift in governing parties
Despite the delay granted to the Centre Party, the bill's progress remains uncertain. Under parliamentary procedures, Centre Party ministers can request the bill to be tabled, but only if they have not yet done so. In addition to Kurvinen blocking the bill on Sunday, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Antti Kaikkonen (Cen), requested the action on Thursday. The Centre Party has traditionally had close ties to farmers and forest owners.
The bill has caused a rift between the five parties in the governing coalition. Finance Minister Saarikko criticised Marin for bringing the divisive bill to cabinet. However, Marin said she had told Saarikko in advance that the law would be introduced in Parliament despite the Centre Party voting against it in the cabinet.
On Yle's current affairs programme Ykkösaamu on Saturday morning, opposition leader Petteri Orpo (NCP) noted the divisions between the parties in the governing coalition. However, he said that in his view the coalition is unlikely to fall before the legislative term ends in March.
Fate of several other bills still open
Several other pending laws are also on the current government's billet. In principle, these bills should be sent to Parliament within a few days, so their contents can still be debated before the end of this parliamentary term. Parliament will take a recess in early March in preparation for the elections in April.
Some of the bills still being debated in Parliament include the trans law and a proposed capital gains tax.
Johanna Ojala-Niemelä (SPD), chair of the parliamentary Constitutional Law Committee, warned on Saturday that there may not be enough time for the committee to discuss the Sámi Parliament act, as the committee is already backed up with other legislation.