Keskusta to lose €2.6m state election funding

The Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party of Finland) led by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä will lose an amount of more than EUR 2.6 million state funding this year following its debacle in the outgoing parliamentary polls, according to national broadcaster Yle.

The party won a total of 31 seats by getting 423920 votes in the elections, which is 202298 votes and 18 seats lower compared to the 2015 elections resulting the lose of the money.

The government has been paying 30 million euros annually to the parliamentary parties since 1967 to support the political parties to bear the expenses.

The money is close to 150,000 euros per lawmaker – to support the activities of country's parliamentary political parties.

Half of the money awarded by the state each year is meant to support the party in general, and the other half is intended for use in the party's information and communication work, said the Yle report.

The Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland -SDP) secured 546471 votes, which was 56369 higher than last year and won 40 seats, which is six higher than last elections resulting increase of 900,000-euro injection of more annual state support moving forward. This boost will bring state-funded support for the SDP up to around six million euros per year.

Vihreä Liitto (Green League) bagged 354194 votes in the elections, which is 101092 more than last year. Vihreät got 20 seats and the number is also five higher, which will help them to get 740,000 euros more each year in state funding.

Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance) won 251808 votes and 16 seats, which is votes 40106 and four seats higher than the last elections, which will help them to get 600,000 more euros in yearly support.