Stubb clinches conservatives’ party leadership setting stage for Finland’s new PM

FINLAND: Sports enthusiast and National Coalition Party (NCP) politician, Alexander Stubb was yesterday picked as party chairman, effectively paving way for premiership position.

Stubb clinched the votes in a delegate’s congress vote that saw other two opponents push the selection into the second count.

His opponents and ministerial counterparts for Economic Affairs Jan Vapaavuori and Health and Social Services Paula Risikko, were the other candidates but the latter went through the second round squaring it out with Mr Stubb.

But it was from that very second count held at a Lahti Concert Hall that Mr Stubb garnered 500 votes cast by delegates.

Ms Risikko got 349 votes while Vapaavuori fell out in the first round. Elated Stubb took to the stage hugging his competitor to a thrill of thanksgiving to his family in abenstia and delegates.

After his election Stubb said: “I do not know how to describe this feeling. Top most is gratitude.” He now takes over from the Jyrki Katainen, who stepped down unexpectedly in April citing other commitments.

 His opponent Jan Vapaavuori congratulated the winner after the vote in a tweet.

“Congratulations Alex. Now ahead of Alex’s team. Big thanks to everyone who has made the work of the campaign and supporters,” read a tweet going by Vapaavuori’s tag.

The conservative party has always maintained handy relationship with EU affairs and beyond focusing its agenda on economic vibrancy and radical economic changes tied with management of finances.

The election of Mr Stubb by NCP as new party chair will set the stage for the rubber stamping as the country’s new premier. Stubb, 46, hails from minority Swedish-speaking and holds doctoral academics from London School of Economics.

He is popularly known as a staunch sports admirer, a multi-lingualist and active in social media. Upon his election, tweets poured in all over the globe in different languages denoting Stubb’s linguistic gift. He will be expected to lead the ruling party going into next Finnish general elections in 2015.