The government easily survived a vote of confidence in Parliament on Wednesday by a margin of 92–76, with 31 MPs absent.
The vote followed an interpellation filed by the main opposition parties, which questioned the right-wing cabinet’s cuts to social welfare, healthcare and education.
Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso (Finns) delivered the government’s response to the challenge last week.
During the debate, opposition MPs accused cabinet ministers of concealing additional planned cuts, although the government had published a list related to health and social services. Opposition lawmakers argued that the list of cuts to social services in particular was not specific.
Government ministers accused the opposition of using the interpellation as a campaign tactic during the ongoing municipal and county elections, which wrap up on Sunday. Juuso and others denied that there were any secrets surrounding the budget reductions.
According to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP), the government will provide more details about planned cutbacks in social welfare spending when it tables its proposed overhaul of the 2014 Social Welfare Act.
Just over 28 percent of eligible voters have already cast advance ballots ahead of Sunday’s dual elections, in which social and health services play a pivotal role.
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