Finnish vote will not affect its presidency

Date: 18/03/1999

By Tim Jones

WHATEVER the outcome of this weekend's Finnish general election, the victors will do nothing to undermine their country's first stab at the EU presidency in the second half of this year.

One Finnish newspaper even suggested last week that, in the next cabinet list, there would be "little demand for persons who are ignorant of EU affairs or unable to communicate in any language save their own".

In contrast to Germany's stewardship of the Union, which culminated in last week's departure of Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine less than two weeks before a summit to agree the EU's new 2000-06 spending plans, the Finns want to be seen as competent business managers.

The usually protracted talks between the parties to put together a coalition will almost certainly be curtailed so that the new government is ready to take on the presidency on 1 July.

The latest polls suggest Social Democrat Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen should hang on to office. A survey published last week showed his party nosing ahead on 23%, with the Centre Party of former Premier Eko Aho just behind on 22% and the Conservatives, led by Finance Minister Sauli Niinistö, on 21%. However, a poll by Finnish Gallup revealed 31% of voters would opt for Niinistö as premier and only 21% for Lipponen.

There are few key policy differences between the two, and the Conservatives and the Social Democrats have already agreed their general approach to the EU presidency. They have even laid contingency plans in case the Agenda 2000 budgetary talks fail at next week's Berlin summit. "If we inherit Agenda 2000, it will go to the Tampere summit," said a senior Finnish official, referring to the meeting planned for mid-October to discuss justice and home affairs issues.

Ministers also agreed to lay the groundwork for the next treaty reform conference which could get under way under the Portuguese presidency next year.

Report of the general election in Finland, March 1999.