Parliamentary term retrospective: opposition refused to topple government
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The five-party opposition surprised observers in the summer of 2003. At that time, it was practically offered a chance to topple the new three-party government of Anneli Jäätteenmäki, but the opposition refused to do so. Instead, the government crumbled on the basis of its own internal lack of confidence in itself.
The same three parties continued in government, with Matti Vanhanen taking over the positions of Prime Minister, and leader of the Centre Party.
The opposition was not very unified, but individual parties did manage to pull a few slick tricks.
The National Coalition Party, started out in something of a panic, finding itself in opposition after 16 years in government. Led by Ben Zyskowicz, the party's Parliamentarians immediately launched into an onslaught against the new government of Anneli Jäätteenmäki, raising some criticism from within its own ranks.
However, when the Jäätteenmäki government was about to fall in 2003, the opposition decided, with the National Coalition Party in the lead, that it would not topple the government through an interpellation, even though the opportunity was there. Instead, the government was allowed to crumble all by itself.
However, the trauma of its election defeat in 2003 stayed with it throughout the four-year electoral term, causing it to focus on the old election promises of the parties in question.
Perhaps the slyest trick came in the autumn of 2006 when the party put forward an interpellation on equality in work.
The economic recovery that took place during the Parliamentary term made the National Coalition Party tone down its criticism of a weak employment situation. However, boom was a boost for the Left Alliance.
Economic improvements lead to increased economic inequality, and the Left Alliance was able to make noise about poverty and short-term employment, and criticise the left wing of the Social Democratic Party over the removal of the wealth tax.
The party was distracted somewhat by the conflict between party chairwoman Suvi-Anne Siimes and the Parliamentary group.
For the Green League, the term was a fairly quiet one. The Greens were still reeling from the trauma of leaving the government before the end of the previous Parliamentary term, and the hangover was prolonged by a disappointing showing in the municipal elections.
Nevertheless the party did manage to raise important issues, such as child poverty, the position of the disabled and those in short-term employment, as well as problems with copyright legislation, and climate change.
The surge in the global concern over climate change emerged this winter just before the elections at a very opportune timefor the party.
The Christian Democrats focused on their own themes. The main message was that the traditional family model is the foundation of society. The party lost its battle on the issue of fertility treatment, nor was it successful in its hard line on prostitution.
Taxation on alcoholic beverages was also reduced in spite of opposition form the Christian Democrats.
An interpellation on development aid was perhaps the most visible move on the part of the Christian Democrats. It briefly took the wind out of the sails of parties considering themselves more progressive.
For the right-wing populist True Finns, the past four years were overshadowed by the slow self-destruction of boxer Tony Halme: the party's main vote magnet in the 2003 elections was convicted of a firearms offence after shooting a gun in his apartment in a confused state of mind. He was hospitalised and went on disability pension before the end of the Parliamentary term.
Party chairman Timo Soini spent much time and energy on the issue, which might have been better spent on the party's anti-EU platform.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 26.2.2007 - TODAY |
 Parliamentary term retrospective: opposition refused to topple government |
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