NEW FINNISH GOVERNMENT

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 13

NEW FINNISH GOVERNMENT

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) HELSINKI, July 16. President Kekkonen of Finland has appointed a new coalition Government, which comes as a climax to negotiations lasting four months.

Mr Ahti Karpalainen, of the Centre Party, is the new Prime Minister, and his Government contain, five Ministers from his party, five Social Democrats, three Communists, two Liberals and two Swedish Party members. The new Government has 142 of the 200 seats tn the House. The Conservatives and the 1 Small Farmers’ Party, which together won the most seats in the March 15 election, have no role in the Government Negotiations towards forming a Government began immediately after the election, but after eight weeks of hard bargaining, it appeared unlikely that one would be formed with a parliamentary majority. On May 14, President Kekkonen appointed a nonpolitical Government of officials, led by Mr Teuvso Aura. This was only a temporary solution, and Mr Aura’s Administration resigned yesterday morning.

The main obstacle in the negotiations concerned the Small Farmers’ Party, which had increased its representation from one to 18 seats, and wanted the finance portfolio in thr C binet The Communists refused to enter any Administration with it and the problem was further complicated by the Centre Party’s wish not to enter a Government without the Small Farmers’ Party. It was not until the Centre Party recently changed its attitude that a five-party coalition could be formed. The Conservatives obtained 37 seats in the March election, the Social Democrats 51, Centre Party 37, Communists 36, Swedish Party 12, Liberals 8 and Christian Union 1. As well as having the Government leadership, the Centre Party has the foreign trade, interior and agriculture portfolios and a Deputy Minister of Social Affairs. The Communists have the traffic, social affairs and justice portfolios.