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Niinistö: When is the right time to cut the debt?

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö says he’s concerned that Finland’s indebtedness is continuing for the sixth year in a row. He claimed that excuses can always be found for keeping the nation in the red.

Sauli Niinistö
Tasavallan presidentti Sauli Niinistö vuoden 2014 valtiopäivien avajaisissa eduskunnassa Helsingissä 4. helmikuuta 2014. Image: Lehtikuva / Vesa Moilanen

President Niinistö took an unusually outspoken stance on Finnish indebtedness at Parliament’s opening session on Tuesday, expressing frustration that rising national debt showed little sign of relinquishing its hold on the nation any time soon.

“When on earth will there be a situation when this situation doesn’t exist?” he demanded.

However, the President was cautious about presenting his opinion on whether or not the government should follow their stated agenda for their governmental term, which was to put the brakes on the nation’s accumulation of debt.

“I'm not going to evaluate the current government's actions or omissions,” he told the press.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of this year's parliamentary season Niinistö also stressed the importance of learning from the over-indebtedness that has plagued southern European nations.

Finland must ensure that its own social stability isn't compromised, stressed the President.