Petteri Orpo to be Finland’s new prime minister

Petteri Orpo, the leader of the conservative National Coalition Party, is set to become Finland’s new prime minister, local public broadcaster Yle reported Sunday.

Orpo’s National Coalition Party came in first in parliamentary elections in April, getting 22 percent of the vote, while the right-wing populist Finns Party were a close second with 21 percent. The Social Democratic party was third with 20 percent.

Orpo decided to build a right-wing coalition with the Finns Party, the Swedish People’s Party and the Christian Democrats. Together, they hold a majority of 108 out of the Finnish parliament’s 200 seats.

In Sunday’s announcement, NCP’s Elina Valtonen is to become Finland’s new foreign minister, while Antti Häkkänen gets the defense portfolio. The NCP will also get the following ministries: employment, culture and science, local government and regional affairs, social security as well as climate and environment.

The Finns Party leader Riikka Purra is expected to be the new finance minister. Her party will also get the ministries of foreign trade and development, of social affairs and health, of economic affairs, of justice, of the interior as well as of transport.

Sari Essayah, the leader of the Christian Democrats, is set to be the new agriculture and forestry minister, while the Swedish People’s Party will get the ministries of education, of European Affairs as well as for sports, culture and youth.