Wallin overwhelming choice as new leader of Swedish People’s Party
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Stefan Wallin, political Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Environment, was elected to the post of chairman of the Swedish People’s Party at the party’s congress in Vaasa on Sunday.
Wallin was the overwhelming favourite, getting the support of 179 delegates. MP Astrid Thors got 85 votes, Helsinki City Council member Jan D. Oker-Blom got 16, and MP Christina Gestrin got just 12 votes.
After his election, Wallin promised to take a more visible role in public debate than his predecessor, Minister of the Environment Jan-Erik Enestam had done. He also said that he plans to bring other politicians into the public eye as spokespeople for the party.
Wallin does not appear to be pushing for any great changes in the political line of his party. After his election, he nevertheless put a special emphasis on the party’s social conscience. He also promised to pay special attention to the problems of combining family life and work.
The Swedish People’s Party will enter the March elections with the aim of getting back the three Parliamentary seats that it lost in 2003.
Wallin confirmed that he will remain in his post for now, and does not plan to seek to replace Enestam in his present post of minister of the Environment yet. Enestam will stay in his post during the Finnish EU Presidency, and Wallin will take on the post at the beginning of next year. During the EU Presidency, Wallin plans to visit different parts of Finland, laying the groundwork for the elections.
The 59-year-old Enestam has led the Swedish People’s Party from 1998 and has held various ministerial posts since 1995. He does not plan to run for Parliament in the elections in March, but he has not revealed what his plans for the future might be.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 12.6.2006 - TODAY |
 Wallin overwhelming choice as new leader of Swedish People’s Party
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