The two main parties in the incoming six-party Finnish government Saturday announced their ministers for the new government led by Jyrki Katainen and his National Coalition Party, according to dpa. The conservative party has relinquished Katainen's current finance portfolio as well as the post of foreign minister. Current Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will instead take over the European affairs and foreign trade portfolios. Stubb was to be succeeded by veteran Social emocrat Erkki Tuomioja, who was foreign minister from 2000-07, while Social Democrat leader Jutta Urpilainen will be the new finance minister. Jyri Hakamies of the conservatives is to vacate the post of defence minister and take charge of enterprise. Stefan Wallin, leader of the Swedish People's Party, one of four junior partners in the rainbow coalition, is to take Hakamies' place. The National Coalition Party has six posts in the 19-member government, including that of prime minister. The Social Democrats also have six posts. The coalition parties announced agreement on the formation of a government on Friday, two months to the day after parliamentary elections that saw big gains for the eurosceptic nationalist True Finns party, which remains in opposition. On Saturday, the True Finns re-elected Timo Soini as party leader. Soini criticized the incoming government's platform, which includes increasing taxes on petrol and diesel as well as electricity, heating fuel, tobacco, alcohol and sweets. In addition to Katainen's party, the left-leaning Social Democrats and the Swedish People's Party, the government is to include the Left Alliance, Greens and Christian Democrats. The Christian Democrats got one post, while the other junior partners are to have two ministerial posts each. The coalition will then have 126 seats in the 200-seat parliament. The opposition is to comprise the True Finns and the Centre Party.
