The Swedish People's Party (SPP) has elected a new leader to replace Anna-Maja Henriksson. He is Anders Adlercreutz, who has served as Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, but will now take over her post as education minister.
Earlier on Sunday, vice-chair and Member of Parliament Henrik Wickström withdrew from the party’s leadership race just hours before the vote.
As the second day of the party convention began, Wickström acknowledged that his support was insufficient. He said he would vote for Adlercreutz, the frontrunner.
Adlercreutz's only opponent was Otto Andersson, chair of the SPP parliamentary group. Both men are from the Uusimaa region, which includes Helsinki, while Henriksson is from Jakobstad on the west coast.
Adlercreutz won by a margin of 183-84.
Adlercreutz, 54, is an architect and third-term MP from Kirkkonummi, where he served on the local council with Finns Party chair Riikka Purra. He has also served as the chair of the SPP parliamentary group. He is a cellist and speaks five languages fluently.
"We are Finland's only liberal centre-right alternative," Adlercreutz said in his acceptance speech, stressing that he hopes to attract Finnish-speaking voters to the party. He reiterated his commitment to the right-wing government platform adopted nearly a year ago.
Delegates will also select the party's vice-chairs on Sunday.
According to the Yle parliamentary correspondent, Joakim Strand is most likely to take over Adlercreutz's former government portfolios. Strand is an MP and chair of the city council in Vaasa on the west coast.
SPP often plays kingmaker role
Minister of Education Anna-Maja Henriksson, who has led the party since 2016, is relinquishing her position. Last week, she was elected as the SPP's representative to the European Parliament.
The centrist SPP primarily represents Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority. It has dwindled to 5.2 percent of the population, down from around six percent in 1990. The linguistic minority is most concentrated along the coast, roughly between Loviisa and Jakobstad.
The party only has 10 seats in the 200-seat Parliament, but often plays a key role in forming coalition governments, including the right-wing cabinet assembled by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) a year ago.
On Saturday, the National Coalition Party unanimously re-elected Orpo for another two-year term as party chair. Meanwhile, one of the largest opposition parties, the Centre selected former defence minister Antti Kaikkonen as its new leader.
2.01pm: Updated with Adlercreutz's win and background.
5.24: Updated with likely Adlercreutz and Strand portfolios.
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