In addition to finalising the shape and programme of Finland's next government, Centre Party chair Juha Sipilä has also taken on the responsibility for running the Parliament, after he was voted interim Speaker Tuesday. Sipilä received 194 votes against the single vote cast in favour of Finns Party chair Timo Soini.
Speaking to MPs following the vote, Sipilä said that the Parliament was beginning its work in exceptionally challenging circumstances.
"The international situation is tenser than it has been for a long time. The situation in Finland is also very difficult and we have major problems to solve. We have to be prepared to adopt unconventional solutions," Sipilä said.
The interim speaker said that he hoped that when Finland celebrates 100 years of independence in 2017, the Parliament would have seen a turnaround in mutual cooperation and strengthened national unity. He added that he did not want to see a repeat of events that took place during the last few weeks of the previous Parliamentary session.
Soini, Zyskowicz deputy Speakers
"National confidence in political decision making is being put to the test. We are the only ones who can restore that confidence by our actions. Our most critical mission is to find lasting solutions and our decision making has to be more solution-oriented than it has been so far. Each of us can influence and improve the culture of discourse. Our respect for each other must be more visible in the Parliament as well as in social media," Sipilä advised.
Apart from the Speaker, MPs voted Timo Soini into the position of first deputy Speaker with 185 votes. Finns Party MP Teuvo Hakkarainen received one vote, while there were seven abstentions.
Seasoned National Coalition MP Ben Zyskowicz received 193 votes for the post of second deputy Speaker to beat party colleague MP Arto Satonen, who also received one vote. There was one abstention.
The Parliamentary groups are to officially nominate Centre chair Sipilä as the leader of coalition formation talks. Meanwhile Sipilä communicated the issues on which the government formation talks will be based to other party leaders Tuesday. The 15-point list was to be released immediately after the meeting of parliamentary groups.
Earlier on Tuesday outgoing Prime Minister Alexander Stubb formally handed in his government's resignation earlier on Tuesday. President Sauli Niinistö accepted his resignation and asked Stubb to continue as caretaker premier until a new government is formed.
