Finland’s former prime minister and National Coalition Party MP Jyrki Katainen has been voted in to replace Olli Rehn as the European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs and the euro.
In a vote on Wednesday morning, the European Parliament voted in favour of Katainen’s appointment to the Commisison, which is the EU’s executive arm, by 421 votes to 170.
This commission’s term runs until the 31st of October this year, although Katainen is widely tipped to stay on after this date in the new commission, under the leadership of newly appointed Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
Katainen addressed the European Parliament on Monday, and called for the EU to focus on implementing decisions and rules already made, rather than driving for new ones.
He also described himself as a skilled negotiator and compromiser.
Katainen resigned as Finnish prime minister on the 16th of June, with a view to gaining a seat on the European Commission.
His predecessor on the commission, Finnish Centre Party MP Olli Rehn, was elected this May to a seat in the European Parliament, and was subsequently appointed one of parliament's 14 vice-presidents.
11.35: This article was amended to clarify that Katainen's role will be economic affairs commissioner, and not trade commissioner as originally stated.
