At the Swedish People's Party convention on Saturday, party chair Anna-Maja Henriksson criticised the government's proposed funding model for healthcare reform, saying it was unfair to the heavily-populated Uusimaa region.
The moderate Swedish People's Party is the smallest partner in the five-party coalition government.
In her keynote address, Justice Minister Henriksson argued that the latest financing plan for the long-delayed healthcare reform (or sote) would in practice transfer tax revenues from the capital region, the southwest and Ostrobothnia to the rest of Finland.
As a result, she argued that healthcare and eldercare services would be undermined these areas, where most of the party’s supporters live. The party is also concerned about the availability of services in Swedish, an official minority language.
“The current funding model for sote is an impossible model for our parliamentary group,” Henriksson said to enthusiastic applause.
The party held a one-day congress at a hotel in Vantaa on Saturday, with some speakers and other participants taking part remotely.
Justice minister under 4 PMs
Henriksson was re-elected unanimously for another term as party leader, as she was unopposed. She became the party's first female leader in 2016.
A former bank lawyer, she began her fourth term as Minister of Justice when Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) took office last December.
She previously held the post under three other premiers: Jyrki Katainen (NCP, 2011–2014), Alexander Stubb (NCP, 2014–2015) and Antti Rinne (SDP) for the second half of last year.
Henriksson, 56, is from the west-coast town of Jakobstad (Pietarsaari). Most of its inhabitants speak Swedish as their native tongue, as do some five percent of Finland’s population, mostly along the coast.
