Sun, 06 Apr, 2014 12:06:48 AM PM expresses interest to act in Int’l forum like EC FTimes-STT Report, April 6  The Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Coalition Party Jyrki Katainen spoke on his future planning on Saturday when he disclosed to quit party leadership and government. Photo – Str / Lehtikuva. Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen has announced that he is going to end his 10-year leadership of Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) in June.
At a dinner on Saturday, he also announced that he will quit as the head of the government simultaneously.
The dinner was organised to mark the launching of Kokoomus’s campaign for the European Parliamentary Polls. Katainen said he only wanted to work for international forums such as the European Commission and that he did not have any desire to run for the European polls.
He said he would step down as the party chief at the upcoming council scheduled for June 13-15. The new party chief will take over as the prime minister subsequently.
The Premier said the reason for him pulling out was that the party needed new people at the helm with fresh ideas. Making a point that he was neither bored nor tired, he said: “Ten years is a long time. I want to move ahead. This is the only right solution.”
There have been speculations in the past that the post of the president of the European Commission may excite Katainen.
In mid-2013, Finnish language newspaper Suomen Kuvalehti reported that the prime minister was likely quit before this autumn.
The prime minister, however, straightway rejected the report terming it completely dubious and meant for serving the purpose of a vested quarter. At that time, Kokoomus leaders also trashed the report saying it was just a rumour.
On January 12, 2014, the prime minister said he would shed more light on his future plans and intentions in April.
In an interview with Yle radio, Katainen also said he had nothing new to tell and wished to concentrate on the task ahead.
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