Social Democrats launch surprise attack on agricultural subsidies

Split in government ranks surprises opposition

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The Social Democratic Party’s Parliamentary group launched an unexpectedly severe attack against Finnish agricultural policy and subsidies on Wednesday.
      Speaking on behalf of the entire SDP group during a Parliamentary debate on agricultural policy, MP Minna Lintonen criticised the so-called environmental supports given to agriculture as ineffective, and called for more input from the farmers.
      Lintonen blamed the high price of food in Finland on the system of agricultural subsidies, and said that regardless of claims to the contrary, she expects that Finnish agriculture would do very well without them.
      Lintonen also called for a decrease in agricultural export subsidies, and less protection of imports, seeing freer trade in agricultural products as a way to promote the interests of developing countries.
     
Lintonen’s speech sparked something of a storm in Parliament on Wednesday, as her message diverged sharply from the tendency of agricultural advocates of all parties to defend Finnish subsidies against pressure from the European Union to push them down.
      Lintonen’s salvo revived the traditional split on the farm policy issue between the Social Democrats and the Centre Party, which are now the main government parties. Lintonen was accused of spreading inaccurate information, and of embracing a hostile attitude toward agriculture. Lintonen, for her part, dismissed the overall tones in the agriculture debate as "yaddayadda".
      Surprised by the sudden split between the main government parties, opposition MPs took full political advantage of the situation and pressed the government front to say if the coalition remains united behind its own agricultural policy. There were even threats of an interpellation - a question put to the government by the opposition, leading to a Parliamentary vote of confidence.
      The SDP statement was seen to be a reflection of proposals made last year by a special aide of Antti Kalliomäki, who was then the Social Democratic Minister of Finance, which were brought to a meeting of the government’s globalisation working group.
      The memo, which was leaked to the press, called for sharp cuts in agricultural subsidies, and a downgrading of social benefits for Finnish farmers.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Wolfowitz in Helsinki laments "horrifying" effects of restrictions on agricultural trade (24.10.2005)
  Social Democrats took hard line on agriculture in working group on globalisation (26.11.2004)

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