Tarja Filatov made 1st deputy speaker

The ruling Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) lawmaker Tarja Filatov was elected the first deputy speaker of parliament on Friday.

In a plenary session of parliament Filatov got 52 votes, said a parliament press release.

She will replace Antti Rinne, also a former prime minister, who will take over as the chair of the Constitutional Law Committee.

Constitutional Law Committee Chair Ojala-Niemelä has been on sick leave since 14 December when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Filatov, a 57-year-old lawmaker from the Häme constituency, earlier worked as the second deputy speaker of parliament from 2010 to 2011.

She has been serving as an MP since 1995.