Breaking News English

Finland's government resigns

Finland - Level 0

Finland's government resigned. It couldn't make changes to welfare and healthcare. Politicians voted against the changes. Finland's leader was very disappointed. He will stay in power until elections in April. Finland's population is aging. It needs a lot of money. The planned changes could save $3.4 billion over ten years.

Politicians think the government is making a mistake. It should stay in power until the elections. Mr Sipila said it had no support and had to resign. Sipila said he takes responsibility. One of Sipila's colleagues said resigning was a good example of "political responsibility".

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Finland - Level 1

Finland's government has resigned. It wanted to make welfare and healthcare reforms. However, politicians voted against the reforms. Finland's leader Juha Sipila was "hugely disappointed". He said he would stay in a "caretaker" government until elections in April. The reforms were because Finland's population is aging. It is under financial pressure. The government's planned reforms would save $3.4 billion over the next ten years.

Politicians think the government resigning is a mistake. They want the government to stay in power until the elections. Mr Sipila said it had no support. He said: "My government has no choice but to [resign]. I'll shoulder my responsibility." Sipila's colleagues said it was right the government resigned. One senior member said: "If anyone asks what political responsibility means, then I would say that this resignation is an example".

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Finland - Level 2

Slowest

All of Finland's government has resigned. It wanted to make welfare and healthcare reforms for Finland's future. However, politicians voted against the reforms. Finland's Prime Minister Juha Sipila said he was "hugely disappointed". He said he would stay on in a "caretaker" government until elections in April. Mr Sipila wanted the reforms because Finland's population is aging - people are getting older. It is under a lot of financial pressure. The government said its planned reforms would save up to $3.4 billion over the next ten years.

Politicians in Finland think the government resigning is a big mistake. They think the government should stay in power until April's elections. Mr Sipila said resigning was the right thing to do because it had no support. He said: "My government has no choice but to hand in its letter of resignation. I'll shoulder my responsibility." Mr Sipila's colleagues said it was right for the government to resign. One senior member of the Centre Party said: "If anyone asks what political responsibility means, then I would say that this resignation is an example".

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Finland - Level 3

Finland's entire government has resigned. It wanted to pass some laws on social welfare and healthcare reform. Its goals were an important part of its plans for Finland. However, politicians in the government voted against the plans. Finland's Prime Minister Juha Sipila said he was "hugely disappointed". He said he and his colleagues would stay on as a "caretaker" government until elections in April. Mr Sipila wanted to change Finland's health and welfare system. He said it must change because Finland's population is aging. It is under a lot of financial pressure. The government hoped its planned reforms would save up to $3.4 billion over the next decade.

Many politicians in Finland believe the government is making a big mistake by resigning. They think it would have been better for the government to stay in power until next month's elections. Prime Minister Sipila said resigning was the right thing to do because it did not get support for its plans. He told reporters: "The conclusion I've drawn is that my government has no choice but to hand in its letter of resignation. I'll shoulder my responsibility." One of Mr Sipila's colleagues agreed that it was right for the government to resign. Antti Kaikkonen, a senior member of the Centre Party, said: "If anyone asks what political responsibility means, then I would say that this resignation is an example".

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson