Petteri Orpo

Finland's unemployment rate became the highest in the European Union according to data available at the time, while employment had fallen instead of advancing towards the government's target of 100,000 additional jobs.

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Political responsibility

The government approved conditional support of 35 million euros for the Garden Helsinki project led by former NCP minister and mayor Jan Vapaavuori, after the Finance Ministry had rejected a much larger loan guarantee. Emails revealed persistent lobbying and Vapaavuori's assertion that Orpo supported the project, prompting allegations of favouritism and poor transparency.

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Political responsibility

Following the announcement of 13 billion euros in Google investment in data centres and a contract covering up to half the output of the Loviisa nuclear power station, the opposition requested national safeguards against possible pressure on electricity supply and prices.

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Political responsibility

The government announced substantial reductions in income tax and corporation tax while debt continued to rise, alongside increased use of pension system assets for certain operations. Several economists challenged Orpo's assertion that the measures would not increase borrowing.

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Political responsibility

The SDP, Centre Party and Movement Now tabled a no-confidence motion accusing the government of failing to deliver on its central promise to curb debt and highlighting rising unemployment and debt despite spending cuts.

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Political responsibility

Orpo promoted a debt brake mechanism intended to bring public debt back towards 40% of GDP over the very long term. Economists and political parties considered the target overly rigid and potentially requiring decades of budget restrictions.

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Political responsibility

After several Finns Party MPs posted images imitating a racist gesture targeting Asian people, Orpo issued official apologies through Finnish embassies in China, Japan and South Korea. The controversy also alarmed companies exposed to Asian markets.

State of the evidence

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The Orpo government planned and implemented more than one billion euros in social protection cuts, notably to unemployment benefits, child supplements, protected earnings from part-time work and housing support. More than half a million beneficiaries were affected.

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Political responsibility

Proposals to restrict political strikes, relax certain dismissal rules and reform collective bargaining triggered several weeks of political strikes affecting ports, industry, transport and other sectors.

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Political responsibility

Faced with a worsening deficit, the government decided to increase the standard VAT rate from 24% to 25.5% and introduce further spending cuts, notably in education, healthcare and local authorities.

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Political responsibility

The Orpo government secured passage of a temporary law allowing border guards, under certain circumstances, to prevent registration of asylum applications at the Russian border to counter the instrumentalisation of migration attributed to Moscow. Lawyers, NGOs and international institutions warned that the legislation conflicted with non-refoulement obligations and the right to asylum.

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Political responsibility

A few days after the Orpo government took office, Economy Minister Vilhelm Junnila was forced to resign following a series of revelations concerning his Nazi references and links with the far right.

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Political responsibility

Old posts attributed to Riikka Purra, Finance Minister and leader of the Finns Party, revealed racist and violent remarks. Orpo initially insisted that she clearly renounce those statements, then accepted her apology, refusing to recall Parliament immediately.

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Political responsibility

Following Junnila's departure, the Finns Party nominated Wille Rydman as Economy Minister. Shortly afterwards, the press published old private messages containing racist language. Orpo described them as inappropriate but maintained government cooperation.

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Political responsibility

Following a summer dominated by racism scandals, Orpo negotiated a government statement on equality and combating racism. The opposition considered the document insufficient and tabled several no-confidence motions.

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Political responsibility

Orpo was one of the coalition's leading figures supporting the major Sote social and healthcare reform. Central elements, including mandatory corporatisation and the freedom-of-choice model, faced constitutional objections, and the reform could not be passed before the 2019 elections, leading Juha Sipilä to tender his government's resignation.

State of the evidence

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Shared responsibility

Following revelations of serious neglect in private care homes, Orpo's party was the last major party to hesitate over enshrining a fixed ratio of 0.7 care workers per resident in law. His shifting positions and remark about 'decimals' were strongly criticised during the campaign.

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Political responsibility

Orpo defended the so-called 'active model', which reduced unemployment benefits when jobseekers failed to meet certain activity criteria. The scheme prompted a major citizens' petition and strong trade union and political opposition.

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Shared responsibility

Following the opening of investigations into racist publications by Finns Party members, Orpo publicly criticised his coalition partner for wanting to be both in government and in opposition.

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Political responsibility

As Interior Minister during the migration crisis, Orpo supported Finland's participation in European asylum seeker relocation mechanisms, triggering an open conflict with Minister Timo Soini and the Finns Party.

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Political responsibility

Orpo announced preparations for rules making it easier to deport asylum seekers convicted of serious crimes, as part of a broader tightening of migration policy.

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Political responsibility