Keskusta remains in govt, selects FinMin Monday

Although Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party of Finland) Chair Katri Kulmuni resigned from the post of finance minister, her party on Sunday decided to continue in the five-party ruling alliance.

“The Keskusta (Centre Party) makes decisions for the interest of Finland and Finns. We are living in an exceptional period at this moment and we need stability in decision-making. As I told on Friday, the Keskusta decided that it will continue in the government,” said Kulmuni in a twitter post in Finnish on Sunday.

She also said that her party will elect a new finance minister on Monday.

Earlier, on Friday, Kulmuni resigned from the cabinet following a controversy raised over a service procurement of about EUR 50,000 from a communications consultancy firm.

After her resignation, it was speculated that the Keskusta, the second largest component of the five-party ruling alliance would quit the government.

Earlier, a Keskusta leader on condition of anonymity told a Finnish language newspaper, Suomen Kuvalehti, that they feared it was Kulmuni’s plan to quit the government. It was said following a delay to hold a party meeting scheduled to be held on Sunday to choose a new finance minister.

The meeting was postponed abruptly on Saturday, without mentioning any reason or any new schedule.

Kulmuni on Sunday said the new minister will be elected on Monday at a meeting of the party board and parliamentary delegation scheduled to begin at 9:00am.