Finland's head of state in favour of a CTT
Although the article does not quote Halonen as saying exactly that she is in favour of the implementation of a CTT, everybody gives that interpretation to the interview. The web-edition of "Helsingin Sanomat" (the dominating newspaper in Finnish), for instance, runs the headline: "Halonen: The Tobin Tax is feasible". Also, while I am writing this, the TV news edition at 22 h sends the same story.
This autumn has witnessed a general shift to the right in Finnish internal politics. Neoliberal politicians and employer's unions, aided by "Helsingin Sanomat" and the mainstream press, are hell-bent on destroying the last remnants of the Nordic welfare society. Their latest success was the abolition of the tax on fortune. They have also mounted an attack against the leaders of Finnish foreign policy, i.e. President Halonen and Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, who are accused of using too much energy on building a better world. According to the neoliberals, Finnish foreign policy should concentrate exclusively on raising the competitivity of Finnish corporations and the profits of their shareholders. (The competition power of Finnish industry happens to be considered "best in the world" by OECD, but, of course, one can always be still better...).
It is encouraging that President Halonen responds to this neoliberal campaign by a favourable statement on global taxation.
- Mikael Böök
