Finland proposes budget cuts for Sámi Parliament amid economic challenges
On Friday, Finland’s Ministry of Finance released the proposed state budget for 2025, revealing significant cuts to the funding of the Sámi Parliament due to the challenging state of the economy. The Sámi Parliament is set to lose €568,000 designated for cultural self-governance.
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, chair of the Sámi Parliament, expressed serious concerns regarding how these cuts will impact operations. “It is good that we know what to prepare for, but I am very worried about how the Sámi Parliament will manage all the tasks assigned to us by law,” she stated.
The Ministry of Justice is responsible for allocating the funding intended for cultural self-governance. Should the proposed cuts exceed half a million euros, they would have a major effect on political activities. According to Näkkäläjärvi, the funding is crucial for covering meeting expenses, negotiations, and participation in working groups. The reductions may also impact staffing, as salaries for preparatory officials and committee members are sourced from this budget. Additionally, the financial constraints could affect the operations of the Sámi language preservation unit.
Aside from the proposed cuts, other funding for Sámi activities will remain at current levels. The budget includes €800,000 for Sámi language educational materials, €240,000 for early childhood education in Sámi, and €1.3 million for language immersion programs. Furthermore, €562,000 will be allocated for social and health services in Sámi languages, matching this year’s funding.
The Sámi Parliament, with a total budget of about €10 million for 2024, has begun preparing for these cuts, with discussions on savings expected in a meeting on August 19. The Sámi Parliament leadership plans to visit Helsinki next week to advocate for their funding needs.
Overall, Finland’s budget for 2025 is projected at €88.1 billion, with a deficit of €12.2 billion, and discussions regarding the state budget will take place on September 3 and 4, with further reviews scheduled for September 23.