Prime Minister-designate Petteri Orpo, at the head of the centre-right coalition, announced Thursday night that he had formed a coalition with the far-right formation that finished second in general elections.
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Published on 06/15/2023 23:24
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Conservative leader Petteri Orpo on April 27, 2023 in Helsinki (Finland). (HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA / LEHTIKUVA / AFP)
He wants to create “order” in the country. Conservative leader Petteri Orpo announced on Thursday June 15 that he would govern Finland alongside the far right after April’s general elections. “I am proud of the good program and the outcome of the negotiations. All questions have been answered,” he told the Helsinki press in the presence of the leaders of the other three parties with whom he will form a government.
Petteri Orpo, leader of the centre-right National Coalition, has formed a governing coalition with Finns Party, the far-right party that came second in general elections, and two other small right-wing parties. The four parties have 108 of the 200 seats in parliament.
Differences in climate and immigration
Coalition talks, which usually last an average of a month, were longer due to differences notably on climate policy and immigration. “We had disagreements on some points and I’m sure we still have some, but what unites us is that we want to fix Finland,” said the prime minister-elect. Petteri Orpo, whose key campaign promise was a €6 billion austerity plan, said he would unveil his program on Friday.
The right already ruled with the Party of Finns (former True Finns) between 2015 and 2017 when a split within the Eurosceptic formation led to a harder line. In the parliamentary elections on April 2, the party won a record 20.1% of the vote.
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