On Wednesday afternoon ministers representing the three-party cabinet will appear in Parliament, responding to an interpellation filed by the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The party, which leads recent opinion polls as the nation's most popular party, accuses the centre-right government of not caring about the everyday lives of the elderly, chronically ill and families with children.
The SDP's interpellation also criticises the government's plan for a pilot project whereby the unemployed would be encouraged to do unpaid work. The idea has also been blasted by the main labour federation, the SAK.
Rural residents at risk
This spring, the government has called for partially selling off state ownership of healthcare services, roads, railways and waterways.
Opposition politicians have repeatedly expressed concern over the ramifications for those living in sparsely-populated areas if these plans go through.
Political pundits have noted the irony of the role of the Centre Party and Finns Party, which have traditionally championed the rights of rural and lower-income people.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, leaders of three of Finland's largest media groups slammed the gradually-privatising postal service Posti for delaying mail – and newspaper – deliveries until late afternoon or evening in rural areas, especially in Finnish Lapland.
Vote of no confidence unlikely
The party is pushing for a vote of no confidence in the government. That is unlikely to succeed, though, as the nearly-year-old coalition holds 123 seats in the 200-seat legislature.
In the opposition, the SDP has 34 seats, followed by the Greens with 15. The three other parties have 27 MPs.
Opposition parties – or any group of at least 20 MPs – may file an interpellation over any issue where they see government policies as misdirected or inadequate. The aim is to spur debate and test confidence in the government or a minister. The cabinet has two weeks to respond to interpellations in plenary session.
_Yle will broadcast the proceedings live on TV1 beginning at 2 pm on Wednesday, _pre-empting the regular Yle News broadcast at 3.05 pm. Radio news will be broadcast as usual at 3:30 pm on Yle Mondo and 3:55 pm on Yle Radio 1.