Prime Minister and Chairman of the SDP Sanna Marin said on Saturday that the ruling parties could resolve their differences if there was a willingness to do so.
The Prime Minister added that the coalition partners have resolved their differences in the past and he believes they can continue to do so in the future.
Marin responded to comments made by the Minister of Finance and the President of the Center on Saturday morning Annika Saarikko.
Speaking at a meeting of the City Center in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Saarikko said that his party would not continue in a government that did not comply with Finland’s budgetary framework.
"As Minister of Finance, I will be responsible for preparing next year’s financial decisions. The frame work for next spring is now underway. I intend to have this principled debate with the chairmen of all the governing parties before Christmas." Saarikko said in a speech to party representatives.
The budget framework sets agreed spending limits for each fiscal year that the current government has exceeded during this term because additional spending was needed to help the nation weather the interest rate crisis.
Marin, who attended a meeting of his own party in Oulu, said that the SDP would continue to work to keep the alliance together.
"Of course, it is assumed that the agreement will be followed together. In the framework negotiations last spring, we agreed on a framework and what adjustment measures we will take," Marin said.
Next year’s budget framework negotiations will decide how the government will save 370 million euros.
"This is, of course, a normal negotiation process, and we are proceeding normally here. Of course, responsible financial management is important to the SDP," Marin said.
Yleโs most recent monthly voter survey, released earlier this month, revealed that support from both the SDP and the center had plummeted as coalition partners came into contention over cuts in funding for the cultural sector.
Source: The Nordic Page