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Sun, 13 Oct, 2013 12:00:54 AM
Outgoing minister is eying for EU parliamentary polls
FTimes-STT Report, October 13
 
File picture of Green Party EU parliament member Satu Hassi. Photo – Lehtikuva.
The European Union parliament member of Vihreät (Green Party), Satu Hassi is likely to take over the charge of the minister for International Development following Heidi Hautala’s decision of resignation.
 
The Green Party, one of the components of six-party alliance government, has already communicated with Satu Hassi on Friday in this regard, party sources and the leader herself said on Saturday.
 
“I have been asked from the party high-up that whether I am interested for the post of the minister of International Development,” Satu Hassi told STT on Saturday.
 
The EU lawmaker, however, did not tell anything in detail or about her decision in this regard.
 
“I even do not know whether there is any other interested person for the post,” she said.
 
Hassi also said that she did not have any more internal information regarding the Arctia Shipping and Greenpeace activists issue and the resignation of the minister, Hautala.
 
Meanwhile, the outgoing minister, Heidi Hautala said that she would now think to contest in the EU parliament elections scheduled to be held next year, news agency STT reported quoting Yle.
 
The outgoing International Development minister, Heidi Hautala. Photo – Lehtikuva.
Hautala also said that she would not play any role to select the party leader for the ministerial post.
 
She, however, wished that the new minister should have the capacity to deal with both the responsibilities of ministry of International Development and State Corporate governance.
 
Hautala on Friday announced to resign from the cabinet taking the responsibility for influencing a state-owned company  by her assistant to withdraw the police complaint submitted against Greenpeace activists last year.
 
 “I have to take the responsibility of the role of my assistant to handle the issue,” said the minister at the press conference, adding that the best way for her is to quit the ministerial position under the present circumstances.
 
The minister admitted at the press conference that her assistant communicated with the Arctia Shipping company to refrain them from making a police complaint against the Greenpeace activists.
 
The Prime Minister, leaders of other components and the own party chief of Hautala hailed the decision of resignation announced by the minister.
 
Earlier, the Prime Minister, Jyrki Katainen, on Wednesday asked explanation from Hautala regarding the allegation.
 
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