Finnish lawmakers officially voted to appoint Centre Party chair Juha Sipilä as the country’s new Prime Minister. The vote followed a formal nomination by President Sauli Niinistö.
However the outcome was by no means unanimous as 62 MPs opposed Sipilä’s appointment, while two abstained. Seven legislators didn’t even show up for the ballot.
However Sipilä's three-party coalition of the election’s biggest winners ensures that he has a strong majority in the chamber – coalition MPs comfortably sealed the result with 128 votes.
President to confirm new cabinet Friday
Meanwhile President Sauli Niinistö will usher out the administration of National Coalition chair Alexander Stubb and formally confirm Sipilä’s incoming cabinet.
Sipilä left final confirmation of his full complement of ministers until the eleventh hour – he announced the names of the Centre’s six ministers at 6.00 pm Thursday.
The National Coalition and Finns parties have each fielded four ministers in Sipilä’s pared-down administration. Both of the junior coalition partners announced their ministerial appointments on Wednesday.
