European Parliament elections: Sharp divergence between voters and candidates on common taxation

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There is a sharp divergence of opinion between Finnish candidates for the European Parliament elections and the population at large on common taxation in the European Union.
      While just under a third of Finnish citizens are in favour of a unified taxation system for all member states, only one in ten of the candidates feel the same way. One in four voters did not have an opinion - an option that the candidates were not given.
     
The information on voters’ views is based on a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup. The responses to candidates’ opinions were gleaned from responses by candidates put to them by the Helsingin Sanomat online candidate selection engine.
      The large parties reject the idea of common European taxation.
      “The Nordic welfare society is based on a higher taxation level than the systems in Southern and Eastern Europe, which actually require the existence of charity”, explains Björn Månsson (Swedish People’s Party) in his response in the HS candidate selection engine.
     
However, there is support for cooperation in taxation matters. “The EU needs to intensify its cooperation in taxation in matters such as capital gains, and environmental taxation, so that tax havens could genuinely be eliminated from Europe”, says Minna Sirniö (Left Alliance).
      Deviating from the consensus are candidates of the Finnish Communist Party and the For the Poor list, a third of whom are in favour of a unified taxation system.
     
Voters and candidates tend to be closer on the question of attitudes toward a minimum wage. Nearly half of both candidates and the population at large are in favour of a minimum wage that is binding for all member states.
      The Finnish Parliamentary parties with the least enthusiasm for the idea are the Swedish People’s Party and the National Coalition Party.
      “If Finland had a minimum wage equivalent to the standard of living in Romania, no Finns would get by on it. If Romania had Finland’s minimum wage, no foreign company would invest in Romania”, notes European Parliament candidate Risto E.J. Penttilä (Nat. Coalition Party).


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Poll suggests lower turnout in prospect for European Parliament elections than in 2004 (25.5.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat