Kiuru, Lindtman to contest for SDP Chair

Family Affairs and Social Services Minister of the outgoing government Krista Kiuru on Monday said that she would contest for the leadership of the Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) at the party council scheduled for September.

Kiuru announced her candidature while addressing a rally held in Pori marking the May Day.

“Many people have asked me if (I am ) a loyal confidant to participate in the SDP´s presidential election. Today (Monday), in my May Day speech at Pori market, I said that I have decided to take part in the presidential election,” Kiuru wrote in her twitter.

“I am grateful to all the supporters and leaders who encouraged me to take this decision,” said Kiuru, a long-term serving lawmaker, who has been discharging her duty as a Deputy Chair of SDP since 2012.

Earlier in last month, SDP parliamentary group Chair Antti Lindtman also announced that he would contest for the Chair of the party following the decision of outgoing Prime Minister and SDP Chair Sanna Marin to quit the party leadership.

On April 5, Marin announced that she would not continue as the Chairperson of the SDP after the next party council.

Marin made the announcement from a press conference in the parliament just after three days of the parliamentary polls took place on Sunday where her party secured third place in the close race election with 43 seats.