Helsinki, April 27, 2026 – The Europe Today: Petteri Orpo on Sunday acknowledged that Finland’s employment targets are slipping due to limited economic growth, while firmly rejecting opposition calls for his resignation and maintaining that the country’s security situation remains stable despite global tensions.
Speaking during a question hour on Yle Radio 1, the prime minister admitted that the government’s goal of creating 100,000 new jobs during its term is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve under current conditions.
Addressing criticism from opposition leaders, including Sofia Virta of the Greens and Antti Lindtman of the Social Democratic Party, Orpo dismissed calls for his resignation following recent budget framework talks that led to cuts in social and healthcare spending.
“Calls for resignation are very typical opposition rhetoric,” Orpo said, adding, “The government’s work is not finished. We have shown exceptional decision-making and cooperation. I stand by our decisions.”
On foreign policy, Orpo described the rhetoric of Donald Trump as “harsh and aggressive,” but emphasized that practical cooperation between Finland and the United States remains strong.
He also addressed regional security concerns, noting that the ongoing tensions involving Iran have not affected Finland’s defence capabilities. The United States’ reported suspension of arms deliveries to Estonia, he said, has no direct impact on Finland.
Commenting on recent incidents involving Ukrainian drones entering Finnish airspace, Orpo stated that national preparedness has improved. He confirmed that the Finnish Defence Forces will involve reservists in monitoring territorial integrity, though no external assistance from NATO has been requested.
Orpo added that he is not aware of any new drone sightings, underscoring that Finland’s security mechanisms remain fully operational and capable of addressing emerging threats.
