HS: Virkkunen does not rule out forced mergers
The ministerial working group on public administration and regional development is to discuss municipal reform on Thursday.
According to the daily Helsingin Sanomat, Public Administration and Local Government Minister Henna Virkkunen denies recent claims that the government is backing down from earlier targets of municipal reform. Forced municipal mergers are also not out of the question.
“We have not backed down nor are any options off the table, because negotiations are still ongoing,” Minister Virkkunen of the conservative National Coalition Party commented.
The government is due to outline the next steps in municipal reform in the coming week. The reform is a cause of conflict in the cabinet, as forced mergers find little favour with the Social Democrats and the Greens.
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