On a YLE TV talk show on Saturday, Lehtomäki said the party wanted a firm grip on business and regional development. She added that there was some dissatisfaction within the party's mostly rural supporters over recent handling of environmental matters.
She also said that the party wanted these posts because it sees energy and climate policy as crucial to the development of Finnish society.
The 34-year-old Lehtomäki served as Minister for Foreign Trade and Development in the first Vanhanen cabinet. She is to begin a six-month maternity leave soon. During that time she will be replaced by Kimmo Tiilikainen, a Centre Party MP and organic farmer.