Finland heads for a four-party coalition government

Finland’s Centrist Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen, wants to form a four-party coalition, with the Conservatives, the Greens and a Swedish minority party.

The Centrists and the Conservatives won 51 and 50 seats respectively in last month’s elections. In a Parliament with 200 seats the support of the Greens and the Swedish party would give them a more comfortable 126 majority. Negotiations will begin next week.

There is not expected to be any major change in policy. Vanhanen wants to stay on as Prime Minister, and have his choice of Foreign Minister. The conservatives would choose the Finance Minister. It was the SDP Social Democrats who lost out in the election. A partner in the coalition last time, they will be on the opposition benches for this four year term.

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