Two Finnish Centre party MPs said Friday they backed direct government funding of the country's public broadcaster.
Tuomo Puumala, a deputy leader of the Centre party, said in a statement that a lump-sum tax had been the wrong way to go in the first place.

"In that case Nalle Wahlroos as well as somebody living on a basic pension would have paid the same amount," Mr Puumala said, citing the managing director of Sampo Bank.

Mr Puumala said direct government funding would not jeopardise the independence of the Broadcasting Company (YLE).

Echoing Mr Puumala, Antti Kaikkonen MP (centre) said direct funding appeared to be the best solution.

The Centre party MPs' statements came a day after Suvi Lindén (cons), the communications minister, shelved a plan to replace the licence fee with a lump-sum tax levied from all households regardless of television or radio ownership.

The minister said Thursday that direct government funding would be fairer than the proposed YLE fee.

STT