No to robbery, yes to justice!

Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho (Finns Party) recently revealed a harsh truth about the current government’s austerity mindset in his May Day speech: “It’s easy to rob children because they don’t have the right to vote.”

And the Orpo-Purra axis is truly robbing them. Politics is a dirty game, but at some point, even the toughest façade cracks. The government’s austerity measures are shameless: fewer youth workers, diminished aftercare for child welfare customers, and students financially penalized from secondary education all the way to universities.

The social impacts of these cuts have been assessed—and they are grim. Marginalization and child poverty will become the legacy of this far right-conservative government. The painful consequences will shadow today’s children and young people for decades to come.

This is the trajectory you should remember at the ballot box. Future generations will have to navigate a conflict-ridden world shaped by environmental and climate crises, and still the foundation for a good life is already being eroded. That’s simply wrong.

Adjusting public finances is a shared objective, but it can be done in many ways. For instance, the Green Party’s so-called “Future Budget” outlines even more ambitious austerity measures than those of the Orpo government, without sacrificing investments in the youth.

Sprawling corporate subsidies and dividends from unlisted companies are perfectly fine for our conservative government—those are paid for, however, at a human cost through cuts to children and the youth. Analyses from the Parliament’s Information Service support the view that a greener alternative is not only possible but also more socially just.

The European elections are approaching rapidly. If there’s any place to advance policies for a brighter future, it’s the EU. The far-right is gaining traction both domestically and across Europe, which makes this a critical moment for reflection. By casting your vote for a just alternative that prioritizes children and young people, you can look tomorrow’s builders in the eye with pride.

Lauri Kaunisaho

Student, municipal councillor for Keitele, second vice chairperson of the council (Greens)

Keitele/Joensuu

Krista Mikkonen

MEP candidate, member of parliament for Savo-Karjala (Greens)

Joensuu

Sofia Virta

Chairperson of the Green League, member of parliament for Southwest Finland (Greens)

Kaarina