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   From: Judacon@fox.net   
      
   Finland's government resigns over failed healthcare reform   
      
   Mr Sipila announced his government's resignation in Helsinki on Friday   
   Finland's entire government has resigned over its failure to achieve a key   
   policy goal on social welfare and healthcare reform.   
      
   Prime Minister Juha Sipila said he was "hugely disappointed" in the   
   outcome.   
      
   Finland's extensive welfare systems are under financial pressure as the   
   nation's population ages, yet reform plans remain politically   
   controversial.   
      
   Mr Sipila's government is expected to stay on in a caretaker capacity until   
   a planned election in April.   
      
   Some political opponents questioned the need for the high-profile   
   resignation of the Centre Party government with just weeks to go until the   
   election.   
      
   But Antti Kaikkonen, a senior member of the Centre Party, defended the   
   decision, which was taken after it became clear the party could not achieve   
   its goals.   
      
   "If anyone asks what political responsibility means, then I would say that   
   this is an example," he tweeted.   
      
   Mr Sipila, a former IT entrepreneur who made millions before entering   
   politics, had previously said he would consider resigning if his primary   
   reform policy failed.   
      
   The government had hoped its planned reforms would save up to €3bn (£2.6bn)   
   over the next decade.   
      
   What is Finland's healthcare problem?   
      
   Like many developed nations, Finland has an ageing population that is   
   putting financial pressure on its social welfare systems.   
      
   As an increasing number of people live longer in retirement, the cost of   
   providing pension and healthcare benefits can rise. Those increased costs   
   are paid for by taxes collected from of the working-age population – who   
   make up a smaller percentage of the population than in decades past.   
      
   In 2018, those aged 65 or over made up 21.4% of Finland's population, the   
   joint fourth highest in Europe alongside Germany — with only Portugal,   
   Greece, and Italy having a higher proportion, according to Eurostat.   
      
   Finland's welfare system is also generous in its provisions, making it   
   relatively expensive. Attempts at reform have plagued Finnish governments   
   for years.   
      
   Finland basic income 'did not help jobless'   
   Finland country profile   
   Mr Sipila's proposed solutions included creating regional authorities for   
   health and welfare services, rather than the local municipalities that   
   currently manage the system, and offering including private companies in   
   the healthcare system to a greater extent to offer "freedom of choice".   
      
   Mr Sipila's government also famously experimented with a guaranteed minimum   
   income scheme – giving €560 (£480) a month to 2,000 unemployed people as a   
   basic income with no conditions attached.   
      
   Initial results suggested the pilot scheme left people happier, but still   
   unemployed.   
      
   Mr Sipila's Centre Party has been in a centre-right coalition government   
   since 2015. Since a 2017 re-negotiation, the government has been formed of   
   the Centre Party, the National Coalition, and Blue Reform.   
      
   The opposition Social Democrats have taken the lead in recent polls by   
   several percentage points.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)