Govt sits in open sessions in Porvoo

History was made on Thursday in Porvoo where the Parliament of the Future met to explore new forms of democratic and civic engagements in continuation of the 100 years of democracy in Finland.

The government held a plenary session and a decision-making discussion participated by citizens, decision-makers and experts for the first time in front of a live audience, reported a leading Finnish language daily, Aamulehti.

“The decisions are well-prepared [in advance]. A minister can ask to put a case on the table, but actual voting is very rare. This government has, I think, only voted once,” Prime Minister Juha Sipilä told the audience explaining the normal decision-making process before holding a swiftly executed meeting.

This open session diverged from the norm in that Sipilä made his ministers take the floor. The ministers briefly expounded on the subject of the decision, what was at stake, and ended their brief speech with “I agree”.

Then the prime minister approved the decision and banged the chairman’s gavel.

“The government’s work sounded quite tiring and monotonous. But the show was fun,” said Leena Keisala of Turku at the first open session.

The Parliament of the Future’s open session was held as part of the centennial independence anniversary of Finland, and anyone could apply in advance to join in the audience.

Normally, government sessions are held closed door in the Government Palace in Helsinki next to the Senaatintori (Senate Square).

The audience was allowed to attend and observe a meeting of the Monetary Affairs Committee, followed by a plenary session and the government’s recommendations. Decisions were made on issues such as forest damage caused by wild elk, reimbursement for the said damage, and a number of official appointments.

Eleven ministers took part in the event with Foreign Minister Timo Soini arriving fresh from negotiations with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. The only missing minister was Sanni Grahn-Laasonen who holds the education and culture portfolio.

According to Sipilä, during a normal meeting, the government would have inquired from Soini how the negotiations went. “We are slightly more informal at a regular meeting,” a cheerful Sipilä admitted.

In addition, the government also considered whether or not to organise a parliamentary discussion in the afternoon.

Finance Minister Petteri Orpo recalled that every decision is based on a huge amount of official work. Recommendations from ministerial groups have also been considered.

“When the matter arrives on the government’s list, the decision has already been practically made,” Orpo remarked.

At the Parliament of the Future, from schoolchildren to the elderly, everyone was entitled to present questions to the ministers about the country’s expanding democracy.

Juha Sipilä said he was in favour of the idea that the municipal voting age be reduced to 16. Finance Minister Petteri Orpo also held it worthy of consideration.

“It will be considered,” said Justice and Labour Minister Jari Lindström.