Party leaders tended to hedge their bets, at the same time accusing each other of vague answers.
The greatest point of contention during the debate arose when the discussion turned to increasing Finland’s loan guarantees to strengthen the EU crisis mechanism. Party chairs demanded that others clearly state their position on the issue, but answers were cautious and ambiguous.
Incumbent Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi, candidate for the Centre Party, suggested that a decision on the rescue packages can be reached after the election, but the idea was largely met with derision. However Kiviniemi received support from Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen, leader of the conservative National Coalition Party.
”Decisions on loan guarantee packages for troubled EU economies will only be reached after the election anyway,” Katainen stated.
Social Democratic Party Chair Jutta Urpilainen, True Finns Party Chair Timo Soini and the Left Alliance Chair Paavo Arhinmäki were most negatively disposed towards loan guarantee packages.
Soini pronounced that True Finns will not enter into a coalition government which would give more guarantees to troubled economies. He said that there is no need to raise the guarantees and that Finland cannot be threatened with exclusion from the EU on this score.
Kiviniemi swiftly responded that, if Finland does not participate in the package, it would in effect have to give up on the euro. Kiviniemi stressed that interest will be received on loans to the crisis-stricken EU countries.
Katainen said that the National Coalition would do anything to prevent an economic crisis, including raising Finland’s loan guarantees if necessary.
A new nuclear plant?
Katainen, Soini and Social People’s Party Chair Stephan Wallin said they would give energy company Fortum the permission to construct another nuclear power plant. Fortum did not receive authorisation to build when the parliament decided on the issue last summer. Two other plants, however, got the go-ahead.
Arhinmäki, Leader of the Green League Anni Sinnemäki and chair of the Christian Democrats of Finland Päivi Räsänen still opposed building new plants.
“I believe parliament voted for constructing two new nuclear power plants in the summer with the view that these will be enough for years,” Räsänen said.
Although neither Kiviniemi, nor Urpilainen have included building permission for Fortum in their election campaign, they both emphasise that the matter will be decided by the parliament if Fortum applies for authorisation.
Taxation disputes
Katainen was the only party leader who said that corporation tax was harmful for the economy. He said that the tax has to be lowered. Wallin expressed similar sentiments.
Urpilainen insisted that corporation tax in Finland was at the correct level also when compared with other countries. Soini said that corporate expenditure should not be increased through government decisions, as was the case with energy tax.
Arhinmäki pointed out that the crisis-stricken Ireland was criticised for introducing tax competition. He said that Katainen and Kiviniemi are guiding Finland in the same direction.
“Corporate tax should be lowered by two percentage points and innovation incentives should be set up,” Kiviniemi said.
Räsänen of the Christian Democrats said that small businesses would benefit more from reducing VAT, rather than the corporate tax.
Current Labour Minister and leader of the Greens Sinnemäki argued that income tax on low incomes should be reduced first, if any reductions are needed.
Reaction to party backing polls
Party leaders appeared unruffled by the latest election poll results.
“Polls show shifts in different directions,” Katainen pointed out.
In the latest poll commissioned by YLE, the National Coalition Party is still ahead, although its support is down from the month before. A poll by newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, however, records a rise in backing for the party.
Urpilainen said she was not concerned over the Social Democratic Party’s drop in the polls.
“The important thing is that we do our jobs properly and reach as many people as possible. Differences in the polls are very small and naturally SDP aims to become the largest party,” Urpilainen stated.
In regard to the continued rise in the polls for the True Finns, party chair Soini promises that able ministers can be found within the party ranks. It was hinted during the debate, however, that the experience of some party candidates is limited to their recent ascension to municipal councils.
“If there is support, ministers will be found too,” Soini said.