Vanhanen to quit as Finance Minister

Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party of Finland) leader Matti Vanhanen has decided to quit as the Finance Minister and Science and Culture Minister Annika Saarikko, also Chair of the party will replace him, reported agricultural newspaper Maaseudun tulevaisuus on Saturday.

The changes to the portfolio of the Keskusta ministers will take place on Wednesday, said the report.

Saarikko at a meeting will nominate herself for the post of Finance Minister and also nominate a new Minister and Science and Culture at a party meeting.

Talking to the newspaper Saarikko said that she wanted Vanhanen to continue as the Finance Minister as long as he likes but finally the responsibility goes to her.

Vanhanen, also a former Prime Minister of the country will now return to the parliament as a rank-and-file MP.

Vanhanen took over the charge as Finance Minister of the country in June, 2020.

The party unanimously nominated Vanhanen to replace Katri Kulmuni after Kulmuni resigned from the post of finance minister cum deputy prime minister following a controversy raised over a service procurement of about EUR 50,000 from a communications consultancy firm.

Vanhanen, aged 64, was the prime minister of the country and also the chairman of the Keskusta from 2003 to 2010.

He returned to parliament as a lawmaker in 2015 and elected the Speaker after the 2019 elections.