Finland\u2019s National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) unveiled a programme on Saturday that would reshape welfare, education, healthcare and local government if the party remains in power after the next parliamentary election.<\/p>\n
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The programme, presented in Helsinki by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, includes proposals to charge students for additional university degrees at the same level, ban tobacco sales to people born after 2015, introduce a family-based welfare cap and divide municipalities into two categories.<\/p>\n
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The nearly 100-page document sets out the party\u2019s goals until 2040. Delegates will vote on the final version at the party congress in Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 in June.<\/p>\n
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The party said Finland should reduce the number of municipalities and create two classes of local authority known as \u201ccore municipalities\u201d and \u201clocal municipalities\u201d. Core municipalities would hold broader responsibility for services, while local municipalities would operate with narrower duties. Municipalities would choose their own category.<\/p>\n
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Orpo said many municipalities faced financial pressure after healthcare and social services shifted to regional authorities.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThere are many municipalities in Finland where the population is small and the birth rate is low,\u201d Orpo said at the party council meeting in Helsinki.<\/p>\n
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The party would encourage voluntary mergers through financial incentives and tighten the criteria for municipalities placed under state financial supervision.<\/p>\n
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Kokoomus also proposed transferring a larger share of tax revenue to municipalities. The programme states that municipalities should receive a higher share of corporate tax income generated in their areas.<\/p>\n
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The plan includes changes to higher education funding. Students who already hold a university degree at the same level would pay \u201creasonable\u201d tuition fees if they pursue another qualification.<\/p>\n
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The party also wants to limit the number of repeated qualifications at secondary and tertiary level. At the same time, Kokoomus proposed new support for adults seeking higher qualifications later in life through a benefit linked to the general social assistance system and student loans.<\/p>\n
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The programme places strong focus on labour market reform. Kokoomus wants broader local bargaining rights in workplaces, including over pay, working hours and holidays.<\/p>\n
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The party also proposed removing obligations that require employers to offer additional hours to existing staff before hiring new workers and ending rules requiring companies to rehire dismissed employees under certain conditions.<\/p>\n
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On welfare policy, the party repeated its push for stricter conditions on unemployment support. The party wants benefits linked more closely to job-seeking activity and participation in employment services.<\/p>\n
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Earnings-related unemployment support would fall from the current duration to 300 days. At the same time, the system would expand to all workers paying unemployment insurance contributions rather than only members of unemployment funds.<\/p>\n
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The programme also proposes a household-level cap on benefits. Child benefits would remain outside the limit.<\/p>\n
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The party also wants immigrant access to social security tied more closely to employment history, residence period and integration requirements. Permanent residence permits would require work history and language skills.<\/p>\n
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Kokoomus also proposed banning face-covering garments such as burqas and niqabs in schools and educational institutions.<\/p>\n
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The party called for restrictions on social media use by children under 15.<\/p>\n
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The programme includes several tax reforms. Kokoomus wants to abolish inheritance and gift taxes over the long term and remove transfer tax on housing and property transactions.<\/p>\n
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