Opposition Urges PM Orpo to Launch Joint Action on Finland’s Social and Health Service Crisis

Finland’s opposition parties issued a unified call for Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to begin immediate cross-party talks as the country’s social and health service system faces growing financial and operational strain. The government confirmed that sote reform will continue this term, with a full report on the sector’s condition to be delivered at the start of the spring session.
Wellbeing regions are preparing next year’s budgets under a legal requirement to eliminate deficits by the end of 2026. Many regions warn that the deadline risks deep service cuts, staffing reductions and increasing pressure on essential care. The situation worsened following a court ruling that South Karelia’s 2026–2028 plan violates the law, while leadership changes in Central Finland highlighted escalating tensions over finances.
Opposition leaders called for immediate cooperation to secure the stability of wellbeing regions and restore trust in public services. They urged the government to extend the financial balancing deadline beyond 2026, arguing that rising costs—driven by inflation, wage growth and higher service demand—make the current timeline unrealistic.
Expert evaluation processes are already underway in multiple regions, with recommendations aimed at stabilizing budgets by mid-2026. Regions under evaluation are barred from major financial decisions that conflict with expert proposals. Failure to correct deficits could result in mergers ahead of the 2027 election.
Opposition parties stressed that the existing framework places regions under rigid limits that no longer reflect real-world cost pressures, and that the system requires timely adjustments to remain functional.