Finland Times

Vanhanen said he had reached the decision after weeks of deliberations.

The former premier said it is likely that he would step from the position of the parliamentary group chair as early as spring.

Vanhanen contested in the presidential elections in 2006 coming third as Tarja Halonen retained the seat.

“Challenging the president of the republic from the seat of the prime minister was not even possible,” Vanhanen said, adding that “In those circumstances, the prime minister and the president were supposed to stick together, because the foreign policy is led jointly.”

Vanhanen received 18.6 per cent of the votes during the 2006 presidential elections.