Negotiations to form a majority government with the nationalistic and populist Finns Party, the Swedish People’s Party and the Christian Democrats will start next week, Petteri Orpo, chair of the liberal-conservative National Coalition Party (NCP), told a press conference Thursday.
The possible coalition government would reflect the outcome of the April elections, where both the NCP and the Finns Party gained seats.
If the four parties now starting coalition negotiations would form a right-wing coalition, it would govern with a majority of 109 seats in the 200-seat parliament.
Orpo, Finland’s probable next prime minister, said he hopes the country could have a new government by early June.
Finland having a right-wing government at its helm would be historic as this will be the first time in over 100 years that governments are formed with parties other than the Social Democrats or the Centre Party.
But major differences – particularly on immigration, climate, EU policy and ways to tackle the public debt – between the four parties still exist.
”Difficult decisions lie ahead, but solutions can be reached,” said Orpo.
Meanwhile, outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) said she was worried about possible cuts in public services in the social and health care sectors, while the outgoing Green Environment Minister, Maria Ohisalo, said she hoped the country would not isolate itself internationally and emphasised the need to continue working towards improving biodiversity.
(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)
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