Government wins confidence vote in Parliament

Parliament voted down an opposition motion of no confidence early Friday afternoon. The measure, which went before the body at the end of an interpellation debate concerning pension policy, was rejected by a vote of 108 to 59.
     The interpellation was sparked by calls from the government of Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) for an increase in the retirement age.
     
The government parties remained united in the vote. However, the opposition split, when four members of the Christian Democrats voted with the government, while three others abstained.
     The other opposition parties, the Social Democrats, the Left Alliance, and the True Finns, voted against the government.
     
The original intention of the opposition was to propose a motion of no confidence in the government for its plans to raise the minimum retirement age from 63 to 65 years of age.
     However, the government backed down on the matter and agreed on a different approach in its talks with labour market organisations already before the interpellation came before Parliament. Consequently, the main aim of the debate was criticism of the government for making its initial decision without first discussing the matter with the labour market organisations.
     In spite of the government’s climbdown, Parliament held an intense debate on the matter on Wednesday and Thursday.
     
The Finnish constitution requires that the government enjoy the confidence of Parliament. Confidence is measured regularly in connection with interpellations, government reports, and budget decisions, which come in December.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Government backs down on plans to raise retirement age (11.3.2009)
  Organised labour angered by government decision on old-age pensions (26.2.2009)
  Government decides on gradual raising of minimum age for old-age pension to 65 (25.2.2009)
  Centre MPs rally around Prime Minister after pension decision (12.3.2009)