| Matti Vanhanen re-elected as Finnish new prime minister |
| Last Updated(Beijing Time):2007-04-18 14:33 |
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Matti Vanhanen, chairman of the ruling Center Party, was re-elected Tuesday by the Finnish parliament as the country's new prime minister.
Vanhanen received 121 votes in the 200-member parliament, easily beating the simple majority requirement.
The Center Party remains Finland's largest party after winning a narrow victory in the March 18 parliamentary election and gaining 51 seats in the 200-member parliament.
In line with tradition, the largest party is entitled to form anew government. Vanhanen started Wednesday to hold talks with the National Coalition Party, the Green League and the Swedish People's Party on the formation of a new center-right coalition government.
The four parties reached agreement on the government program and distribution of ministerial posts last Sunday. Of the 20 ministerial posts, the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party each has eight, and the rest are equally divided between the Green League and the Swedish People's Party.
Finnish President Tarja Halonen will formally appoint the other ministers on the proposal of Vanhanen Thursday who will lead the new government for another four-year term. |
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