Rydman Accuses Coalition Partners of Protecting 'Golden Piggy Bank Club' Institute

Social Affairs Minister Wille Rydman has accused his government partners of shielding the UKK Institute, a public health and exercise promotion body, from budget cuts. Rydman claims he proposed dissolving the special law that governs the institute's funding in the spring, which would have placed it on equal footing with other grant recipients.

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Not a single government party, except for the Finns, was willing to repeal this separate law. A very typical example of the extremely close relationships between taxpayer money, organizations, and politicians.

"Not a single government party, except for the Finns, was willing to repeal this separate law. A very typical example of the extremely close relationships between taxpayer money, organizations, and politicians," Rydman told Helsingin Sanomat. He described the UKK Institute as a "golden piggy bank club," noting that three members of parliament sit on its ten-person board.

Rydman believes that in the current difficult public finance situation, no organization's funding should be protected by special legislation. He stated that other coalition parties did not explain their refusal to repeal the law. The UKK Institute's funding is relatively small in the scale of state finances. For the current year, its grant was set at 918,000 euros but was reduced to 826,200 euros by Rydman's ministry. The institute has appealed this decision to the administrative court.

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It is wise to have a reshuffle, because it ensures a fresh start in the agreement circle.

Kristian Poutala, Minister for Sport and Youth Affairs, confirmed that Rydman wanted to change the UKK Institute's special status, but other coalition parties disagreed. Poutala defended the institute, calling it a respected, decades-old organization doing exceptional work for the nation's physical activity. However, Aino-Kaisa Ikonen, Minister for Municipal and Regional Affairs, stated that abolishing the institute's special status was not agreed upon in the government program. She added that promoting exercise and health is a special focus in the program, with the UKK Institute being key to implementing these goals.

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After a long series of serious cases, from the mink scandal to the drone case and the police's dismissal of cases, new forces are needed at the top. Danes deserve a police force with leadership they can fully trust.