Erkki Tuomioja, one of Finland’s most experienced foreign relations experts, is retaking the leading role in Finnish foreign policy. In the new government, announced by six coalition parties last Friday, the social democrat is back as the country’s foreign minister. He served in the same post in the period 2000-2007.
Tuomioja is known as an active publicist. He has the last years headed the Finnish parliament’s Grand Committee on EU affairs and currently chairs the Nordic Council. He is also known for political views considered more radical than the mainstream social democratic line. For example, he is still a member of the activist organization Attac, Wikipedia informs. He holds a PhD.
Meanwhile, outgoing minister Alexander Stubb will become Minister of Trade and European Affairs, a new government unit. Stubb, who represents the National Coalition Party, has served as foreign minister since 2008, then in another government coalition.
The new Finnish government coalition, to be headed by National Coalition Party leader Jyrki Katainen, consists of six parties – the National Coalition, SDP, Left Alliance, Greens, Swedish People’s Party and the Christian Democrats.
The new government coalition is based on a Government Programme entitled An Open, Fair and Bold Finland. It is available at the Finnish government website , so far only in Finnish.
