(Adds Saarikko’s comments)
HELSINKI, May 22 (Reuters) - Annika Saarikko, the leader of Finland’s Centre Party who will take over as finance minister next week, said on Saturday that there would be no major changes in policy when she replaces her party colleague, Matti Vanhanen.
“The policies of the Ministry of Finance will not change much. I think that we have already built many guidelines together with Vanhanen during my party leadership,” she told Reuters.
The party announced earlier on Saturday that Vanhanen will step down and be replaced next week by Saarikko, now science and culture minister.
The planned mid-term switch was agreed when Vanhanen took over here the position from Katri Kulmuni, who resigned in June 2020 after admitting she had used taxpayers money to pay for training in public speaking.