New and Familiar Faces Join New Government

Conservative chair Jyrki Katainen, 35, takes over the powerful Finance Minister's post, while the new Foreign Minister will be veteran politician Ilkka Kanerva, 59. He becomes the first conservative to hold the post in some 70 years. The conservatives will nominate Sauli Niinistö, the biggest vote winner in the last election, as Speaker of Parliament. Jari Koskinen was nominated as head of the NCP's parliamentary delegation, but turned down the job. Koskinen, who was widely expected to be named as a minister, did not immediately explain his decision. Jyri Häkämies will be Defence Minister and also in charge of overseeing about 40 wholly or partly state-owned companies. They have a combined value of some 30 billion euros. The conservatives named three first-time women ministers. The new Interior Minister is Anne Holmlund, while Sari Sarkomaa has the education portfolio and Paula Risikko takes over as Minister of Basic Services. Another newcomer, Jan Vapaavuori -- a major player in the land dispute between Helsinki and Sipoo -- takes over a new post called Minister of Housing and Zoning Affairs. Former minister Suvi Lindén, who resigned the last government over a conflict-of-interest dispute, returns as Minister of Communications. That portfolio has traditionally been combined with transport matters, but they will now be handled by a yet-to-be-named Centre minister. Meanwhile the Swedish People's Party has named party chair Stefan Wallin as Minister of Culture and former MEP Astrid Thors as Finland's first Minister of European and Immigration Affairs. Women Likely to Dominate On Monday evening, the Greens announced that party chair Tarja Cronberg, will be Labour Minister, at least until that ministry is dissolved. Cronberg, who will apparently also be the only non-MP in government, won out in a party delegation vote against former presidential candidate Heidi Hautala. Tuija Brax was chosen unanimously as Justice Minister.

As of the beginning of next year, Finland will see the establishment of a new "super ministry" when the Ministry of Trade and Industry will take over labour affairs, regional policy and copyright issues, possibly renamed as the "Ministry of Labour and Commerce".

This ministry will be led by a Centre minister, as will foreign trade, social affairs and health, agriculture, municipal affairs and environmental affairs.

The Centre Party is to unveil its seven remaining appointments on Tuesday. Vanhanen has indicated that they will include four women, which would give the cabinet a female majority for the first time.