Global General

Finland likely to have its second female PM

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-13 08:33

HELSINKI - Finland's next prime minister is likely to be current Minister for Public Administration and Local Government Mari Kiviniemi, after she was elected head of the country's ruling Center Party Saturday.

Minister for Public Administration and Local Government Mari Kiviniemi (R), who is chosen as Finland's new Centre Party leader, waves during the Centre Party Conference in Lahti June 12, 2010. She will become the new Finnish Prime Minister. [Agencies]

The 41-year-old Kiviniemi secured the win in a second round voting at the Center Party Congress, with 1,357 votes against 1,035 for Mauri Pekkarinen, current minister for employment and economy.

Kiviniemi is likely to replace Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who leaves office on 18 June. But the appointment will have to go through a vote in the parliament on June 22, and will need the approval of President Tarja Halonen.

Vanhanen announced last December he would resign the post in his party due to health problems, and that he intended to cut short his second term as head of government.

Kiviniemi, holding a master's degree in social science, has been a member of Finnish parliament for 15 years. She has worked as Vanhanen's economic policy adviser.

If approved, Kiviniemi will become Finland's second female prime minister, after Anneli Jaatteenmaki, who sustained only a two-month period at the post in 2003 due to scandals.