Greens threatened to walk out of government talks over election reform

Negotiators take strong stand against racism

print this

Although negotiations for the formation of a new government have continued for more than ten days now, Jyrki Katainen, who is leading the talks, said on Sunday that he is not frustrated in any way.
      “I don’t have time, because we’re negotiating all the time”, he said as he left the House of the Estates, where the talks are being held.
     
On Friday negotiators of the Green League had threatened to leave the talks over the question of election reform.
      The Social Democrats have opposed a proposed constitutional amendment, which had been approved by the previous Parliament, which would make it easier for small parties to get candidates elected to Parliament from small constituencies. To take effect, the bill would have to be passed by the new Parliament as well.
     
The Greens have set electoral reform as one of four threshold questions for joining a government.
      The aim of the proposed reform is to introduce a greater degree of national proportionality to the race.
      In 2007 Green League chairwoman Tarja Cronberg failed to win a seat in the North Karelia electoral district, even though the party got 11.7 per cent of the ballots cast in the constituency.
     
There was much discussion among the negotiators on discrimination and minority human rights.
      Social Democratic Party MP Johannes Koskinen, who heads the working group on legal policy, said that he expects the issue will appear in the government’s policy programme.
     
President Tarja Halonen urged the new government to include measures against racism in its programme.
      Speaking on Saturday at an event marking the 50th anniversary of Amnesty international, Halonen said that growing xenophobia in Finland needs to be taken seriously.
      Jyrki Katainen said on Saturday that all parties are in favour of fighting racism, but he would not say if anti-racist action would be specifically mentioned as a goal for the next government.
     
Most of the working groups discussing issues related to a government policy programme that would please all prospective six parties taking part in the talks took a break on Sunday, but the economic affairs working group, which is chaired by Kimmo Sasi, continued.
      The working group did not meet in its entirety, and the focus was on bilateral discussions between Sasi and representatives of the various parties.
     


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Katainen says planned government front is holding (27.5.2011)
  Taxation proves to be thorny issue at government formation talks (26.5.2011)

See also:
  Governments usually formed a month or two after Parliamentary elections (24.5.2011)

Helsingin Sanomat