...

New Finnish government takes shape

Other News Materials 18 June 2011 18:33 (UTC +04:00)
More details emerged Saturday of the composition of the incoming six-party Finnish government to be led by Jyrki Katainen and his National Coalition Party.
New Finnish government takes shape

More details emerged Saturday of the composition of the incoming six-party Finnish government to be led by Jyrki Katainen and his National Coalition Party, dpa reported.

The conservative party has relinquished Katainan's current finance portfolio as well as the post of foreign minister. Current Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will instead take over the European affairs and foreign trade portfolios.

Jyri Hakamies is to vacate the post of defence minister and will instead take charge of enterprise. Stefan Wallin, leader of the Swedish People's Party, one of four junior partners in the rainbow coalition, is to take his place.

The National Coalition Party has a total of six posts in the 19-member government, including that of prime minister.

The Social Democrats, who are also to have six posts in the new government, have yet to announce their selections for the portfolios of finance and foreign affairs.

The coalition parties announced agreement on the formation of a government on Friday, two months to the day after parliamentary elections that saw big gains for the eurosceptic nationalist True Finns party, which remains in opposition.

On Saturday, the True Finns re-elected Timo Soini as party leader. Soini criticized the incoming government's platform, which includes increasing taxes on petrol and diesel as well as electricity, heating fuel, tobacco, alcohol and sweets.

In addition to Katainen's party, the left-leaning Social Democrats and the Swedish People's Party, the government is to include the Left Alliance, the Greens and the Christian Democrats.

The Christian Democrats got one post, while the other junior partners are to have two ministerial posts each.

The coalition will then have 126 seats in the 200-seat parliament.

The opposition is to comprise the True Finns and the Centre Party.

Latest

Latest