Kääriäinen wants young challenger for Vanhanen

Support brewing in Centre Party for reshuffle of ministers

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Centre Party deputy chairman Seppo Kääriäinen hopes that challengers to the group of leaders of the party might emerge at the Centre Party congress, which is to be held in Lahti next summer.
      “This also applies to chairman Matti Vanhanen and party secretary Jarmo Korhonen.”
      In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, Kääriäinen says that a challenger or challengers might emerge no earlier than March or April.
     
In Kääriäinen’s view a possible challenger should be serious about the post. “We like a competition. We do not allow the party to get too old in its leadership.”
      The Centre Party rank and file rallied behind Vanhanen during the recent controversy sparked by claims that Vanhanen had been given free construction material from a company beholden to Nuorisosäätiö, a foundation with close ties to the Centre Party.
     
However, Kääriäinen is a realist with respect to Vanhanen. “You cannot live basking in this warmth. It is not enough on its own.”
      A party needs more than the applause of its own adherents. Kääriäinen emphasises the need for a credible party line, and for visions of the future, young strength, courage, and open-mindedness.
      This is his message to a group of 1,500 party members who are taking a cruise to the Estonian capital Tallinn on Friday. During the cruise they will make plans for the future.
     
Kääriäinen started out in the Centre Party as a secretary of planning in 1970. Since then, he as served as a special aide, party secretary, deputy chairman, minister, constitutional expert, Member of Parliament, and its leading ideologue.
      On the next Presidential elections, Kääriäinen notes that Vanhanen had suggested that the next candidate should be a woman. Kääriäinen himself has been seen as a possible alternative. “It doesn’t cause any vibrations for me”, Kääriäinen says.
     
The Centre Party’s Parliamentary group has been openly discussing the possibility of reshuffling its ministers.
      The matter is up to party leader, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.
      However, one Centre Party MP says that the question irritates Vanhanen whenever it is put to him.
      Representatives of the party’s MPs have said to Helsingin Sanomat that a reshuffle is needed because of waning interest in the party, and the decline in popular support.
      Four of the members of the party’s ministerial group are over 60 years old, which is not seen as a good way of attracting new voters, even though the skills of the ministers themselves are appreciated.
      One indication of pressure for a reshuffle was the four-page spread in the party’s newspaper Suomenmaa last week dedicated to the subject. The paper mentioned the names of 12 new potential ministers.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Centre Party leader Matti Vanhanen feels “strengthened by election funding furore” (19.10.2009)
  PM Vanhanen accuses YLE of systematic attempt to topple him (12.10.2009)
  Vanhanen goes on offensive against YLE over corruption allegations (30.9.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat