Minister Rydman: Grant criteria not 'over-interpreted'

Finnish Minister of Social Affairs and Health Wille Rydman has defended the criteria set for social and health organization grants, stating there was no procedural error. The Chancellor of Justice had requested an explanation from Rydman following complaints about the new rules.

Rydman asserted in a written statement that the announced application criteria easily fit within the regulatory framework for state grants. He noted that decisions on allocating grants fall under the minister's purview according to the government's division of labor. This year's focus, he explained, is on directing significant cuts, unlike previous years where emphasis was on allocating increased resources.

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The announced application criteria fit easily within the framework set by the regulation concerning state grants.

The new criteria, announced in June, exclude grants for organizations without a clear link to health promotion or those primarily serving a specific non-health-related identity group. Cuts were also targeted at umbrella organizations. Rydman stated that both political and official levels aimed to avoid saving money on direct, face-to-face work, thus directing cuts towards organizations not characterized by such engagement.

He further argued that the criteria are not discriminatory and that claims of discrimination are based on overinterpretations and speculation. Rydman believes the criteria align with the law, which requires supported activities to promote equality and the realization of fundamental rights. He acknowledged that past interpretations of this criterion have been very broad, but maintained that the current rules are not inherently flawed.

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Such claims have been based on overinterpretations and far-fetched speculations that are not based on the criteria themselves.