Chairman and Prime Minister of the Social Democratic Party Sanna Marin spoke in Turku at a joint International Labor Day demonstration by his party and his younger government partner, the Left Alliance.
In connection with the imminent public sector strike next week, Marin commented on the labor market, saying the collective bargaining system is turbulent and is being directly weakened.
"It is important to ensure that disadvantaged people in the labor market are always properly represented and that workers’ rights are respected," he said.
He said that if the system crumbles, the SDP will be ready to defend workers ’rights through legislation. The SDP has close ties to the labor movement.
The SDP’s NATO decision is expected soon
Marin also said that Finland is ready for new energy sanctions against Russia. Marin said buying energy from Russia is financing the war against Ukraine and must be stopped.
Marin also referred to Finland’s possible NATO membership "There are no easy solutions, but decisions must be made".
The SDP and the Left Alliance are the only major parties that have not yet stated their position in NATO. The SDP is expected to announce its decision on May 14th.
The SDP is expected to broadly support NATO membership, while the left may be the only major party to oppose it.
Kaikkonen promises military meat
In his May Day speech in Helsinki, the Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen (Cen) condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying "there is no right to this war".
Kaikkonen, like many other May Day speakers, stated that Russia’s brutal attack has changed Finland’s security policy environment and that "we have made significant decisions to strengthen our defenses".
Kaikkonen said that the aging vessels in the fleet will be replaced with new ones made in Finland and the Hornet fighters will be replaced with a new F-35 fighter. Stocks will be replenished and refresher exercises for reservists will be intensified. He promised more support for voluntary national defense and the hiring of more skilled personnel.
Bite condemns high taxes, bureaucracy and immigration
In his May Day speech Riikka PurraOpposition The chairman of Basic Finns expressed concern about the current direction of society.
Purra said his party strongly supports the welfare state, but at the same time he criticizes the continued expansion of the public sector and high tax rates.
Speaking in Helsinki, he called for tax cuts and argued that current tax rates weaken Finland.
"Working in Finland is not profitable. Taxation is too harsh, leaving many with little left. You can earn more by staying at home. The structure of the labor market, the bureaucracy of entrepreneurship and recruitment, and immigration are all nails in the same coffin," he claimed.
Source: The Nordic Page