Parliament debates government policy on development aid
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Hardly any Members of Parliament came out against Wednesday's calls by opposition parties for an increase in spending on development cooperation to the recommended level of 0.7% of GDP by the end of the decade.
Only the right-wing populist True Finns party were opposed to the target during debate over an interpellation signed by MPs of the Christian Democrats, the National Coalition Party, the Left Alliance, and the Green League.
The Parliamentary groups of the main government parties, the Centre and the Social Democrats, were insistent on keeping to the target. Roger Jansson of the third government partner, the Swedish People's Party, said that it would not be any problem to save money in other sectors in order to meet the target.
There was also little disagreement on the issue of world poverty and the need for development aid. Differences emerged over whether or not the government has expressed sufficient will to achieve the spending goal, even though the pace of increase in funding would not seem to be enough. At the current pace of growth, spending on development cooperation would rise to about 0.48% GDP by 2009.
Defending the government's record, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki (Centre) said that growth in development funding has been faster under the present government than at any time since the recession of the 1990s.
"There is will in the government to adhere to its commitments", said Social Democratic MP Susanna Rahkonen.
Katri Komi (Centre) praised the government's policy on development funding as "consistent and responsible".
The first signatory of the opposition motion, Christian Democratic MP Päivi Räsänen, said that everyone knows that the very idea of jumping from 0.48% to 0.7% in a single year is self-deception.
Suvi Lindén (Nat. Coalition) said that while the government has not given up the goal, it "does not plan to take part in its implementation".
In their speeches, Finnish Parliamentarians spoke at length on human suffering around the world, but there was also much talk about Finland's position.
Lindén said that there would be no point in dreaming of a seat on the UN Security Council with the current Finnish contribution to world development.
"Finland's international position is becoming increasingly difficult", warned Heidi Hautala (Green).
There was also some criticism of the quality of development aid - especially that provided by the European Union. Räsänen said that Finland has an ideal position during its turn at the EU Presidency in 2006 to address the problem.
Annika Lapintie (Left Alliance) had a concrete proposal: she said that money for development aid could be taken from military spending.
True Finns MP Timo Soini came out against "dumping money overseas".
Finance Minister Antti Kalliomäki (SDP) chided MPs for constantly demanding more money for one thing or another, and then calling for more spending on development aid.
He warned that the Parliamentarians were eroding the state economy.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 28.4.2005 - TODAY |
 Parliament debates government policy on development aid |
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