Riikka Purra made Perussuomalaiset Chair

The main opposition Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) on Saturday elected Riikka Purra as the Chairperson of the party.

The populist party of the country convened in Seinäjoki where the party councilors elected Purra, the first woman to lead the party.

She bagged 774 votes out of total 1,302 votes cast at the party council.

Sakari Puisto, a lawmaker from Tampere and Ossi Tiihonen, another leader from Lohja also contested for the party leadership but they got 252 votes, and 181 votes respectively.

The newly elected Chair is currently a Member of the Parliament elected from in Kirkkonummi.

The 44-year old leader Purra had said she wouldn't change much about the party's current policies but would like to focus more on economic issues, pledging to limit immigration.

The party councilors also elected Arto Luukkanen from Järvenpää as the party secretary and

Leena Meri , Mauri Peltokangas, and Sebastian Tynkkynen as first, second and third Vice Chairpersons respectively.