In January the Finnish Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen, announced that he would not seek another term as the leader of the Finnish Centre Party. (See previous post). Subsequently, he announced that he would step down as prime minister on 18 June, immediately after the Centre Party’s conference at which the new party leader would be chosen.

The Centre Party chose its new leader last weekend. Helsinki Times reports that Mari Kiviniemi, currently the Minister for Public Administration and Local Government, was elected at the second ballot, winning 1,357 votes against 1,035 votes for the other candidate, Mauri Pekkarinen, the Minister for Economic Affairs. At the first ballot she won 46% and Pekkarinen won 32% ahead of two other candidates, Tuomo Puumala and Annika Saarikko, who won 12% and 10% respectively.

Finland currently has a four-party coalition headed by the Centre Party and including the National Coalition, the Green League, and the Swedish People’s Party. Helsingen Sanomat is not expecting a major reshuffle when Kiviniemi takes office later this week.