Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, the chairman of the Sámi Parliament, is deeply disappointed with the state budget proposal. Photo: Vesa Toppari / Yle
The Ministry of Finance published the draft state budget for 2025 on Friday, August, 9. In the 2025 budget proposal, the state plans to cut more than half a million euros from the funds intended for the self-government of the Sámi Parlament.
According to the budget proposal, the funding of the Sámi Parliament will be drastically cut next year due to the difficult situation of the state finances. According to the presentation, the Sámi Parliament are about to lose 568,000 euros from the funding intended for cultural self-government, which makes 5,7% of its 10 million budget in 2024.
According to Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, the chairman of the Sámi Parliament, the cuts will drastically affect the operations of the Sámi Parliament.
It's good that we know what we have to prepare for. However, I am very worried about how the Sami Parliament will be able to handle all its statutory duties, says Näkkäläjärvi.
Funding for cultural self-government is granted by the Ministry of Justice. If the cuts of more than half a million euros are realized, it will have a big impact on political activity.
According to Näkkäläjärvi, the money pays for, among other things, meeting expenses, negotiations and participation in working groups. The savings can also affect the personnel, because the money is used to pay the salaries of preparatory officials, board case handlers and administrative employees. Savings can also have an impact on the operation and administration of the language center that works to maintain the Sámi language. Other funding earmarked for Sámi activities will remain unchanged.
According to the budget proposal, other money for Sámi activities will remain at its current level. EUR 800,000 will be allocated to Sámi learning material activities, which is the same amount as in 2024. According to the proposal, EUR 240,000 will be allocated to Sámi language early childhood education and EUR 1.3 million to “language nest” activities. 562,000 euros will be allocated to securing and developing Sámi-language social and health services, which is the same amount as this year.
Plenary session of the Sámi assemblies. If the cuts of more than half a million euros are implemented, it will have major effects on, for example, political activities. Photo: Vesa Toppari / Yle
The total budget of the Sámi assemblies in 2024 has been around ten million euros. Money accumulates from many sources, such as the administrative branches of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Operating money also comes through the Education Administration, other state subsidies, revenues from own operations and other subsidies.
The administration of the Sámi Parliament has already started preparing for adjustment measures due to savings in the spring. The work is now progressing, and the board of the Sámi Parliament will meet on August 19 to discuss the savings. The presidium of the Sámi parliament will travel to Helsinki next week to meet parliamentary groups, politicians and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
We are trying to explain why it is important that Sámi Parliament has funding and sufficient funding to handle all the tasks that are assigned to us by law and that are needed so that we can support and develop all Sámi languages, Sámi culture and Sámi self-government, says Näkkäläjärvi.
The government of Petteri Orpo has worked from the beginning in the direction that the state makes large savings and that the savings apply to the whole society. The state budget for next year is a total of 88.1 billion euros and it has a deficit of 12.2 billion euros, which makes 13,8%, or state's long time record except 2020 and 2024.
However, the Sámi parliament is not going to give up on the budget proposal just yet. According to Näkkäläjärvi, the lobbying work will continue.
Fortunately, there are still budget negotiations ahead and there is time to make an impact. The final budget will not come until the end of the year, and there is still an opportunity to make an impact. However, we have to prepare for the fact that the Sámi parliamentarians will have to save a lot next year, says Näkkäläjärvi.
The state budget debate will take place on September 3 and 4. The state budget proposal will be discussed in the economic committee and in the joint meeting of the Government on September 23.
The total amount of the 2025 budget proposal is 88.1 billion euros. It is EUR 0.1 billion more than what is budgeted for 2024, including the second supplementary budget. The budget proposal of the Ministry of Finance has a deficit of 12.2 billion euros. The deficit estimate is 0.6 billion less than what was budgeted for 2024, including the second supplementary budget.
While the Ministry of Defense's budget for 2024 totaled 6.2 billion euros in the budget proposal of the MD for 2025 is a total of 6.3 billion euros, or 100 000 000 more. Defense spending accounts for 2.3 percent of the gross domestic product forecast for 2025. 1.7 billion euros, or 27% is allocated to the purchase of USA-made F-35 multi-role fighter jets.
It is also planned to continue the material and training support to Ukraine in 2025. In the budget proposal, the Defense Forces are granted 221 million euros for procurements to replace the capabilities handed over to Ukraine.
Based on Yle.fi, vm.fi, valtioneuvosto.fi, defmin.fi
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