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Wed, 02 Apr, 2014 12:01:15 AM FTimes-STT Report, April 2  The local government minister Henna Virkkunen. Photo – Lehtikuva. Local Government Minister Henna Virkkunen will take over the ministry of transport in addition to her present responsibilities.
The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Sports and Culture were vacated last week with the resignation of Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance) from the alliance government over a dispute regarding austerity package.
The Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) took the responsibility of the transport ministry while the other post was given to the Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party), the second largest component of the five-party alliance government.
On Monday, the government decided to not appoint any new minister.
Virkkunen said the workload would increase considerably in spring when she took over the new portfolio. She is also a candidate in the forthcoming European parliament elections and expects ministerial changes in the Kokoomus, in case she is elected in the European polls.
Praising Virkkunen’s strong credentials, Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen said although he considered the matter settled they would have to choose a minister again if Virkkunen got elected in European parliament.
Minister of Education and Science Krista Kiuru praised the appointment saying new recruitments would have cost a lot of money amid the current economic situation.
The tasks in the Ministry of Culture and Sports are likely to be distributed among other SDP ministers.
The president is expected to accept the resignation of Merja Kyllönen, the outgoing minister of transport, and Paavo Arhinmäki, the outgoing minister of culture and sports, on Friday.
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