The leader of negotiations on forming Finland's next government and chair of the National Coalition, Petteri Orpo said on Monday evening that the talks are progressing.
Orpo, along with fellow members of the NCP, as well as members of the Finns Party, the Swedish Peoples' Party and the Christian Democrats began their seventh week of government formation talks on Monday at the House of the Estates in downtown Helsinki.
During a break in talks early on Monday evening, Orpo said that it will become clearer whether the four parties will be able to put together a government programme this week after talks wrap up on Tuesday.
He said negotiators have made considerable progress on a number of controversial issues, including development aid and transportation fuel distribution obligation levels.
Orpo noted that the agreements already reached were a sign that further decisions could be made on Monday as well as Tuesday.
The negotiators have other hefty topics to discuss, including agreeing to policies on Finland's public social and health care services.
The government formation talks continued later on Monday evening.