Finland Times

The President, Sauli Niinistö  on Thursday appointed Haavisto as  a cabinet member  and assigned him to take charge of the International Development, said an official press release.

On the same day the President  also released upon request Heidi Hautala from the cabinet.

The Government plenary session made decisions on the division of responsibilities among ministers, members of Cabinet Committees and ministers' deputies. Pekka Haavisto is a member of the Cabinet Finance Committee and Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs.

Earlier, the Vihreät (Green League)  on Wednesday night selected its former chief, Pekka Haavisto for the ministry for International Development replacing the party minister Heidi Hautala.

Haavisto, who led the party from 1993 to 1995 also worked as the minister for Environment and Development Cooperation during the past Lipponen goverment.

Hautala on October 11 announced to resign from the cabinet taking the responsibility for her assistant’s action of influencing a state-owned company to withdraw the police complaint submitted against Greenpeace activists last year.

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 Hautala’s own party chief hailed her decision to resign.

Earlier, the Prime Minister, Jyrki Katainen, on October 9 asked explanation from Hautala regarding the allegation.