Finland's current Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen (NCP) was elected mayor of his home city of Espoo at a council meeting on Monday evening.
Mykkänen beat his closest challenger Tuula Antola by 44 to 31 in the second round of voting. The first round also showed a spread of support among the five candidates, something Mykkänen noted in his acceptance speech.
"Even today there were divisions. I want to build back up that trust and I will act impartially as a mayor who always strives to find the best solution for the residents of Espoo," he said.
The office of Espoo mayor is the highest-paid municipal role in Finland, with Mykkänen standing to earn more than 18,000 euros per month — an increase on his current ministerial salary of about 15,500 per month.
NCP looks for new environment minister
Mykkänen will begin his duties on 1 February 2025 following the retirement of the current mayor Jukka Mäkelä, who has served Espoo since 2011.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) must now begin the process of finding Mykkänen's replacement as Minister of Climate and the Environment from within the NCP ranks.
"Mykkänen's portfolio is very broad and challenging, because it includes climate policy, environmental policy, housing policy and even energy policy. It is a huge entity and an issue that requires careful consideration," Orpo said.
There are currently five names in the hat to replace Mykkänen. According to Yle's information, the new minister is likely to come from Uusimaa — because the region will not have a minister once Mykkänen moves to the Espoo mayoral office.
Uusimaa is the country's largest constituency and a stronghold of the National Coalition Party.
One prominent candidate for the environmental portfolio is Saara-Sofia Sirén, considered a rising star within the NCP.
Sirén has a strong background in environmental issues, including sitting on parliament's climate committee. However, she represents the constituency of Southwest Finland, which could work against her if PM Orpo decides an Uusimaa minister is essential.
Another contender is Sari Multala, who is currently serving a half-term as Minister of Science and Culture. She will hand that portfolio over to Oulu MP Mari-Leena Talvitie at the halfway point of the government's term in office.
Multala is from Vantaa, ticking the Uusimaa box for Orpo, and she is perceived within the party to have performed well as culture minister.
Another option for Orpo is to appoint Talvitie as Environment Minister, and keep Multala in her current role, but this is thought to be unlikely because Talvitie represents the Oulu constituency.
The two other names in the discussion about Mykkänen's replacement are Matias Marttinen, chair of the NCP's parliamentary group and widely considered to be Orpo's right-hand man, as well as Heikki Vestman, chair of the party's Uusimaa branch.
NCP will make the final decision on who will succeed Myykkänen on 30 November, Orpo announced on the social media platform X on Tuesday afternoon.
Article updated at 14:38 on 22.10.2024 to add comments from PM Petteri Orpo.
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