The Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has announced that he will not be seeking re-election as the leader of the governing Centre Party at next June’s party conference in Lahti.
According to Newsroom Finland, Vanhanen claimed that his decision had been made with consideration to his impending leg surgery and its recovery time which would impact [...]
The Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has announced that he will not be seeking re-election as the leader of the governing Centre Party at next June’s party conference in Lahti.
According to Newsroom Finland, Vanhanen claimed that his decision had been made with consideration to his impending leg surgery and its recovery time which would impact upon his ability to function effectively as party leader and prime minister.
Vanhanen said in his blog that the timing of the announcement was in order to give potential candidates the chance to reflect on the position over the holiday period. He also suggested that the Lahti conference, where a new party leader will be chosen, would also be crucial in the naming of the next prime minister. Vanhanen will continue to stand as an MP in the general election of 2011.
Vanhanen’s announcement has caught his fellow Centre Party members off-guard with leading candidates Timo Kalli, the party’s parliamentary chair, and deputy speaker Seppo Kaarianen both stating they would not enter into the leadership contest.
Kalli expects possible replacements to emerge in early 2010 although he added that it was plausible that the PM and party leader may well be different people. Kaarianen said he hoped that the situation would lead to a genuine leadership contest, adding that the circumstances were novel.
The announcement has led to bitter infighting between the National Coalition and Centre parties with debate raging over whether the government or parliament has the right to choose the next prime minister.