Addressing the party faithful in Rovaniemi, capital of Finnish Lapland, the former prime minister said on Saturday that Finland has been justified in supporting and understanding small eurozone states in crisis.

“By doing so, we have helped Europe and ourselves. But there are no longer justifications for helping large countries such as Spain and Italy,” she declared.

Kiviniemi slammed Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen’s government, saying it had marketed itself as an executor of responsible policies, while in practice the direct opposite had occurred, expanding Finland’s financial risks.

The Centre is to elect Kiviniemi’s successor later on Saturday.

Some analysts expect Madrid to ask eurozone finance ministers for bailout for troubled Spanish banks, perhaps on Saturday as well.