Party men in support of two candidates contesting for the party chair during the convention on Thursday. Photo Lehtikuva.
The Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party) convention began on Thursday with a view to elect the next party leadership.
Nearly 500 delegates of the SDP, the second largest component of the five-party alliance government, have convened in Seinäjoki to elect the party chair with some supporting the incumbent chairperson, Finance Minister Jutta Urpilainen, and some her opponent, Antti Rinne, chairman of the trade union Pro.
The delegates will make their decision this morning.
File picture of two aspirants Jutta Urpilainen and Antti Rinne. Photo Lehtikuva.
Urpilainen, who has led the party since 2008, refused to speculate on her support-base or that of her opponent. She, however, remarked that a sizable number of delegates were undecided and had not yet taken a position.
Referring to the election as tight and open, Urpilainen said the figures will become clearer after the end of the process on Friday.
Urpilainen began a visit on Thursday to meet party congress groups on what has been termed a “job interview”.
The convention today is scheduled to elect the new party chief along with the party secretary, three vice-chairmen and the party council.
