Finland Times

 

The chair of the Kansallinen Kokoomus, Alexander Stubb. Photo Lehtikuva.

The Kansallinen Kokoomus chair, Alexander Stubb is set to be confirmed by parliament as the country’s new prime minister on Monday.

 

The ruling parties’ decision-making bodies will also assemble on the day to deliberate on the outcome of the mini-government negotiations.

 

The nation is also awaiting a number of ministerial appointments. The European Affairs and Foreign Trade docket previously held by Stubb is vacant and Henna Virkkunen who heads the Ministry of Transport and Local Government is heading to Brussels to become a member of the European Parliament.

 

The president of the republic, Sauli Niinistö will name a new government Tuesday morning at the president’s Mäntyniemi official residence.

 

Stubb will represent the nation for the first time as its premier at an EU summit on Thursday and Friday.

 

On June 14, Alexander Stubb, the incumbent minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade of Finland was elected party chair by delegates of the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party).

 

Earlier, on April 5, the former prime minister, Jyrki Katainen announced that he was going to end his 10-year leadership of the Kokoomus in June. He also announced that he would quit as the head of the government simultaneously.

 

Katainen officially stepped down as prime minister in mid-June and was appointed as Finland’s interim EU Commissioner on June 18.