Coalition crisis
Finish PM resigns
Reuters, Helsinki :
Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne resigned on Tuesday after the Center Party, a member of the governing five-party coalition, said it had lost confidence in the Social Democrat leader in the wake of a crippling postal strike.
Rinne’s government has been widely criticized over its handling of a two-week strike at Finland’s state postal service, Posti. The strike spread to the national airline, Finnair, and to other industries before being settled last week.
“I accept your resignation request, but at the same time I ask your cabinet to continue as a caretaker government until a new government is in place,” President Sauli Niinisto told reporters assembled at the presidential residence.
The timing of the crisis is awkward. Finland holds the rotating presidency of the European Union until the end of the year, playing a central role in efforts to hammer out a new budget for the bloc.
“Losing confidence” is not a formal procedure, like a vote of no-confidence, and the Center Party move was not directed at the Social Democrats (SDP) but specifically at Rinne.
Center Party chairwoman Katri Kulmuni said on Monday her party wanted to remain in the coalition, but questioned Rinne’s role in handling the strike.
Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne resigned on Tuesday after the Center Party, a member of the governing five-party coalition, said it had lost confidence in the Social Democrat leader in the wake of a crippling postal strike.
Rinne’s government has been widely criticized over its handling of a two-week strike at Finland’s state postal service, Posti. The strike spread to the national airline, Finnair, and to other industries before being settled last week.
“I accept your resignation request, but at the same time I ask your cabinet to continue as a caretaker government until a new government is in place,” President Sauli Niinisto told reporters assembled at the presidential residence.
The timing of the crisis is awkward. Finland holds the rotating presidency of the European Union until the end of the year, playing a central role in efforts to hammer out a new budget for the bloc.
“Losing confidence” is not a formal procedure, like a vote of no-confidence, and the Center Party move was not directed at the Social Democrats (SDP) but specifically at Rinne.
Center Party chairwoman Katri Kulmuni said on Monday her party wanted to remain in the coalition, but questioned Rinne’s role in handling the strike.
