HELSINKI – Finland’s parliament voted as expected for Mari Kiviniemi to become the next prime minister, paving the way for her approval by the Nordic country’s president later yesterday.
Ms Kiviniemi, leader of the Centre Party, anchor of Finland’s four-party coalition government, won the vote 115-56, with 24 absences and four blank ballots.
She will become the second woman prime minister in the Nordic country's history, with Finland’s other top-level political position, the presidency, also held by a woman, Tarja Halonen.
Ms Kiviniemi’s predecessor, Matti Vanhanen, resigned on Friday, after having said in late 2009 he would step down for health reasons.
Ms Kiviniemi was set to introduce her new government last night.
It will have one new member and is expected to follow Mr Vanhanen’s line of gradual fiscal tightening, following a deep recession last year.
Parliament is expected to approve the government in a vote tomorrow.
Finland’s next parliamentary elections are set for April 2011. – (Reuters)