Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Finland’s anti-euro party causes election upset


Finland’s pro-Europe National Coalition led by Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen has won Finland’s general election but is set to form a government with the country’s anti-euro bloc.

The unlikely pairing, which is considered a major political upset, also bodes ill for Portugal’s bailout package as the euro-sceptics have threatened to oppose its rescue plan.

The True Finns, whose leader Timo Soini made major gains based on criticising Europe’s crisis managing strategy, came in third but only one percentage point behind the winners. 

The main opposition Social Democrats came in second.