The People have spoken – time to make decisions for real
The result of the Finnish parliamentary election didn't surprise me. The three biggest parties kept their positions, though the order was changing along the way. We can note that the people's voice was heard: the most significant expectations concerned economic growth and rapidly reducing indebtedness. All the big parties agreed on the goal: of balancing the economy, but the views varied regarding the means and timetables.
It is pretty clear that the government negotiations will be complex. The National Coalition Party has set a threshold question for its government partners to commit to the six billion programs. Based on the discussions before the election, neither SDP nor Perussuomalaiset is dedicated to such an extensive program with the described schedule. On the other hand, we know from history that during government negotiations, the edges smooth out, joint understanding increases, and consensus will be found.
Whichever the government may be, it should make fast moves.
Growth and well-being are built by individuals and companies
We are returning to the fundamental questions. We need to understand the state of our nation from different perspectives and simultaneously create quick ways to improve employment and guarantee the availability of workers. The means do not have to be complicated, but they must be speeding up by the right decisions.
Yes, we need to reform our structurals significantly. When considering what kind of means to use, decision-makers should continue and deepen discussions with the private sector. It has been brought up many times that growth happens, and well-being is built through the growth and success of companies. Political decision-making cannot take place separately from this.
Then we must remove the unnecessary bottlenecks and demotivating factors before employment, both for young people, the unemployed, and the elderly. Stoping early retirements and tackling mental health challenges even more courageously is necessary. Social security must be reformed, and work must be made profitable, including self-employment.
The future of education and the level of competence of Finns must be kept high, and the private sector must be more strongly involved in educational policy solutions. It is necessary that we observe more openly than before who, for example, has the right to write degrees in the future.
More flexible, cost-effective, and faster operating models must be created for work-based immigration, regardless of the sector and salary level. Differences of opinion cannot act as determining factors here.
The structure of the public sector must be recreated and organized so that the authority's work is truly the work that the administration should do and only so much work with a productivity perspective.
The people are crying out for change. They deserve that the decision-makers are able and brave enough to take us on a sustainable path. The future government is facing big, certainly painful questions. Responsibility must be remembered in the face of these questions and decisions—responsibility towards both individual people, groups of people, and the environment.
The solution is work now and always.