Lehtomäki surprises Centre Party by bowing out of leadership race

Environment Minister’s decision may put old guard back into contention

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Leading figures in the Centre Party were caught by surprise on Saturday when Minister of the Environment Paula Lehtomäki announced that she would not seek the party’s leadership. The post is being left vacant by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.
      Lehtomäki had been seen as the favourite successor to Vanhanen ever since he announced that he would give up the party leadership at next summer’s party congress. Observers have said that the Centre Party faces a battle over a generational change in the party, the gender issue, the image of the party itself, its policy line, and possibly even the composition of the next government.
      There are serious concerns within the Centre Party of the lack of eagerness to step into Vanhanen’s shoes. The possibility has even been floated that although he is giving up the party's leadership, Vanhanen might be asked stay on as Prime Minister until the next Parliamentary elections in 2011.
     
Lehtomäki said in a television interview programme on Saturday morning on the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) that she is putting her family ahead of the party. She told Helsingin Sanomat that she understands that her decision may cause confusion within the Centre Party, and she emphasised that her decision was her own.
      “The systematic refusal of young candidates has been eye-catching, said Seppo Kääriäinen, one of the deputy chairmen of the party. He added that the old guard has shown enthusiasm to enter the race.
     
“The array of candidates has declined to a serious degree”, Kääriäinen said.
      On Saturday, Kääriäinen’s own name was floated by Erkki Laatikainen, former editor-in-chief of the Jyväskylä newspaper Keskisuomalainen, which has close ties with the Centre Party.
      “Hearing proposals like that, it is necessary to lie down and take a deep breath. At the same time one needs to be careful not to make any stupid statements”, Kääriäinen commented
     
Laatikainen felt that Lehtomäki had created pressure for electing a “more mature candidate”. In addition to Kääriäinen, he mentioned Minister of Economic Affairs Mauri Pekkarinen.
      Laatikainen also suggested that Lehtomäki would not have found Party Secretary Jarmo Korhonen acceptable as a partner. Laatikainen suggests that the new party leader be given a say on the choice of Party Secretary.
      Korhonen has come under fire from within his party recently, and many members of the Centre Party’s Parliamentary group are known to want him to be replaced.
     
Minister of Administrative and Municipal Affairs Mari Kiviniemi is seen as a possible Centre Party leader by Kari Hokkanen, former editor-in-chief of the Seinäjoki-based newspaper Ilkka.
      An announcement from Kiviniemi is expected next week.
      “Kiviniemi has been overshadowed by Lehtomäki. This will also inspire Mauri Pekkarinen and [Minister of Foreign Trade and Development] Paavo Väyrynen to join in.”
      “Most assume that the choice will be for a prime minister. That raises the bar, and increases the need for credibility and self-criticism”, Kokkanen said.
     
One influential figure in the Centre Party suspects that the media is talking about Väyrynen as a way of causing confusion within the Centre Party. Another commentator feared that the current government coalition might not hold after the next election, if the next party leader is of the “old guard”.
      “The doors are being opened in a state of confusion to the National Coalition Party.”


Previously in HS International Edition:
  COMMENTARY: Christmas break gives Centre Party figures time to consider Party leadership issue (15.12.2009)
  Battle for the Centre Party chair is warming up (8.1.2010)
  Other Centre Party MPs do not warm to Väyryneńs views on party chairman’s age (7.1.2010)
  Veteran Centre Party politician Paavo Väyrynen hints at run for leadership (5.1.2010)
  Vanhanen: careful consideration behind decision to give up Centre Party leadership (31.12.2009)

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