The government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) has been making spending cuts since taking office. Now, it's switching to stimulus.
Helsingin Sanomat takes a closer look at what this week's government midterm budget session could mean for the years 2026 to 2029.
The government is expected to set aside its austerity tools and turn its focus toward reviving economic growth. This week marks the beginning of that change, as the administration moves to stimulate the country's long-stagnant economy.
HS previously reported that the government is planning to lower the corporate tax rate by two to three percentage points, bringing it down to 17–18 percent. Tax reductions are also in store for employees, and while the exact scale of income tax cuts remains unclear, reductions are expected to apply across the board, from low to high earners.
Despite plans for tax relief, the government has said it remains committed to stabilising Finland's debt-to-GDP ratio by the end of its term. This means it will need to introduce additional spending cuts and tax increases worth hundreds of millions of euros.
These specifics remain largely unknown. The government is, however, expected to scrap the tax deductibility of trade union membership fees, increasing annual tax revenues by some 190 million euros.
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May Day forecast
After a warm spell over Easter, many have ditched their winter garb, but according to the latest monthly forecast from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), summer-like warmth is not returning until well into May.
The next couple of weeks are forecast to remain cool and occasionally rainy, reports Iltalehti.
Finns always keep a close eye on the May Day forecast — it's seen as the country's unofficial kickoff to the warm season. So far, the outlook is mixed: May Day Eve is expected to be mostly sunny but on the cool side, while rain showers may move in from the west on May Day itself.
In most parts of the country, daytime temperatures on May Day Eve — 30 April — are expected to range between 5 and 9 degrees Celsius.
Dine and dash
A Finnish man is accused of doing a nearly £2,000 'dine and dash' at one of Britain's most prestigious hotels, according to Ilta-Sanomat.
According to the charges, the homeless Finnish man consumed a £1,936 meal with wine at the five-star Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane in May 2022 — with no intention of paying. Now, three years later, the case has reached a court.
The man was released without bail and subsequently failed to appear in court when the case was first scheduled to be heard. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was finally apprehended this month.
However, the court was unable to find a Finnish interpreter for the initial hearing, leading to a postponement. The case is now set to be heard on Tuesday, when an interpreter will be available remotely.
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