In a special broadcast Sunday, Finns Party leader Timo Soini said early elections would be necessary if the SDP Chair will change in May.
“That option can’t be ruled out. If the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance change, then it’s a done deal. If three ministers leave, it will indicate the start of a parliamentary election campaign,” said Soini.
Left Alliance Chair Paavo Arhinmäki was of the same opinion.
“The Government already relinquished its main principles during the budget negotiations. It might make sense that the public would be given the opportunity to express its own views,” said Arhinmäki.
Chair of the Centre Party’s parliamentary group Kimmo Tiilikainen was most cautious in his reaction.
“The question of whether the government is able to continue is dependent on its ability to change Finland’s direction. Even if Katainen is leaving, the problems remain,” Tiilikainen remarked.
Representatives of the government’s five-party coalition that were present considered early elections a completely unfounded option.
“Moving the elections up to an earlier date is not something that should be entered into lightly. There is no justification for new elections,” said Christian Democrats Chair Päivi Räsänen.
“This was the case four years ago, when the Centre Party chair and prime minister was replaced. There is nothing to indicate that the government would somehow become tied up in knots about this. I wonder why the opposition has to resort to defamation,” said National Coalition Party MP Ben Zyskowicz.
“There is no reason to panic, and I see no need for early elections,” added SDP’s Minister of Labour Lauri Ihalainen.