Women hold majority in Centre Party ministerial group

Väyrynen makes comeback after 14 years

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The Centre Party voted on Wednesday to name five women and two men, in addition to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, as the party's ministers in the new Finnish government.
      The Centre Party's ministerial group now has five women and three men, in addition to one man who will serve as a maternity leave substitute.
     
There is a strong tradition in the Centre Party of close votes and nail-biting tension. Tuesday was no exception. This time, many of the men leaving the joint meeting of the party's Parliamentary group and party executive were rather silent; the female-dominated ministerial group came as a surprise to many.
      The biggest surprise name was the new Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paavo Väyrynen. Although he had been on Vanhanen's list all along, Väyrynen was chosen to the spot in a very close vote.
      "I am very satisfied", Väyrynen smiled after the vote, holding a large stuffed toy cow. He had been given the mascot when he was still vying for the post of Minister of Agriculture.
      Väyrynen was slightly disappointed with the post that he got, saying that the agriculture portfolio would have given him better chances to promote the interests of his constituency, Finnish Lapland.
      He nevertheless insisted that he was taking on his new post with enthusiasm. He was not worried about the prospect of job-related travel, even though he had said before the Parliamentary elections that one reason why he wanted to leave the European Parliament and return to domestic politics was the amount of travel involved as an MEP.
     
Vanhanen said that he has confidence in Väyrynen's skills and in his loyalty.
      After the meeting there was speculation about Vanhanen's motives for choosing Väyrynen. The most common explanation was the need to inspire and mollify rural Centre Party supporters.
      It was also said that Vanhanen wanted to give Väyrynen opportunity to join the ranks of elder statesmen through one more ministerial post.
      Väyrynen was seen to have remained loyal to Vanhanen throughout the election campaign, which was seen to improve his position.
     
Paavo Väyrynen narrowly prevailed over MP Antti Kaikkonen in a 41 to 36 vote.
      Sirkka-Liisa Anttila defeated Katri Komi as Minister of Agriculture. Mauri Pekkarinen was named Minister of Trade and Industry, Liisa Hyssälä was chosen as Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Anu Vehviläinen is the new Minister of Transport, Mari Kiviniemi was named Minister of Municipal and Administrative Affairs, and Paula Lehtomäki got the Environment Minister's portfolio.
      However, Lehtomäki announced that she is expecting a second child, and will be going on maternity leave for the second time as a government minister. Substituting for her for about six months will be MP Kimmo Tiilikainen.
      Tiilikainen said that he does not like short-term jobs in principle, but felt that this one was justified.
     
Vanhanen said that he had chosen a team that includes experience, freshness, something from the old government, gender equality, and consideration for the different parts of the country.

More on this subject:
 BACKGROUND: Two surprise appointments spark reactions

Helsingin Sanomat