Centre Party chair Juha Sipilä was formally nominated to lead government formation talks Tuesday afternoon. Shortly afterwards, he issued a homework assignment for parliamentary groups – a list of 15 questions to be answered by 2.00 pm Thursday. The questions will help Sipilä determine the party’s positions on key issues to be grappled with during the next government’s term in office.
In a news conference shortly after he was formally anointed as leader of the coalition formation talks, Sipilä described the assignment list as "difficult".
“This probably means a laborious two days for all of the parliamentary groups,” he remarked.
Sipilä said that he would review the responses over the three days following the May Day holiday during in-depth face-to-face discussions.
"I have initially agreed with the parliamentary group heads that there will be bilateral meetings with each parliamentary group representative on Tuesday. The goal is still to reach agreement on the shape of the coalition either on May 6 or 7 and to begin the actual government negotiations after that," he added.
"I believe that this list of questions will go a long way towards helping to determine the composition of the coalition," he observed further.
Thorny questions on the economy, job creation and immigration policy
The homework assignment given to the parliamentary group includes thorny questions such as listing the key concepts of the "Finland 2025" vision and identifying 5 – 7 strategic government programme goals to take the country toward that vision.
Party groups have also been asked to say how much government spending should be cut, and how; and to provide a timetable for government to turn around its indebtedness.
Concrete new measures to create jobs, boost entrepreneurship and encourage economic growth are also on the list, as well as ways to improve the welfare of families and reduce welfare taxes. Other issues relating to the economy include proposing ways to promote the bio-economy, sustainable development and Finnish food production.
In terms of immigration policy, MPs have to come clean on whether or not their parliamentary groups want to see any changes to the country’s current immigration policies or related legislation.
Sipilä has also asked parliamentary groups to come up with strategies for improving education and training and promoting the growth of new learning environments as well as digitalisation.
MPs have been asked whether or not they are committed to dismantling bureaucracy and finding new ways to unite society.
Looking for commitment to governing coalition
In terms of EU policy, Sipilä wants MPs to declare what they see as the country’s major positions on foreign and security policy as well as international cooperation and to outline Finland’s most critical EU policy areas.
Last but not least, Sipilä wants to know if parliamentary groups are committed to reforming government's strategic programme and the administration's way of working.
He rounded out the assignment list by asking if each parliamentary group is prepared to work with a majority government led by Juha Sipilä and to working with it throughout the entire government term - and ultimately, whether or not each group had any "redline" questions that would affect the government composition or programme.
