MP Pekka Aittakumpu and MP and multiple-time minister Mika Lintilä have strictly refused to run for the presidency.
The center chairman of the parliamentary group Antti Kurvinen tells HS that he is seriously considering entering the party's presidential race.
“As the chairman of the parliamentary group, I feel it is already my duty to consider the candidacy. I am seriously considering it,” he tells HS.
Former Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen said on Thursday message service in X that he hopes that there will be good candidates for the position of chairman.
“I have also been asked about my own interest. I will think about this big issue in due time in peace. I will make my decision during the spring,” Kaikkonen wrote.
Kaikkonen has already expressed his interest in the chairmanship of the center.
“I'm not trying, but I'm also not saying never. If the place ever opens, we'll see. I haven't thought about going to challenge the sitting chairman either,” Kaikkonen commented on the matter to HS last November.
The center from the vice-presidency it is said that the chairman of the party Annika Saarikon the announcement that he will leave the chairman's duties next summer came as a new thing to them in the morning.
So far, at least none of the vice-chairmen directly say that they are seeking the chairmanship of the party at the summer party meeting.
“Now, in the party, a small electronic time begins, fittingly, where we start to see who will come in June to seek the chairmanship of the party”, the vice-chairman of the party Markus Lohi describes the atmosphere in the party.
He doesn't want to comment on that yet, whether he plans to participate in the pursuit.
“Today is certainly not the time for such decisions. As the party's vice-chairman and one of the longest-serving members of parliament, I belong to the group that has to seriously consider this,” Lohi sets out his words.
“I'm not ruling anything out at this point.”
The center like Lohe, the rest of the vice-presidency is silently revealing their own future plans.
“The news also came as a surprise to the party leaders this morning. I haven't had time to think about my own position, anyway. I am extremely happy about Annika's family news”, the vice-president Hilkka Kemppi states.
Like Lohe, he doesn't want to rule out any options at this point.
“Now I will certainly start my own reflections regarding which place I am aiming for in the party meeting. The tasks of the party are interesting, and I am committed to working for the center in the future.”
“I only heard about Annika's decision this morning, I haven't had time to think about it at all. The time for that will be later in the spring”, the vice-president Petri Honkonen in turn states.
From left, center vice-chairmen Petri Honkonen and Markus Lohi, chairman Annika Saarikko, deputy chairman Hilkka Kemppi and party secretary Antti Siika-aho.
Presidency the pursuit is refused by a member of parliament and a multiple minister Mika Lintilä.
“I am now focusing on my EU campaign”, Lintilä, on the other hand, messaged HS.
At the end of the year, Lintilä announced that he would seek to become a member of the European Parliament in the European Parliament elections held next June.
Also a Member of Parliament Pekka Aittakumpu says he won't go to the race.
“I'm not surprised by Annika's decision and I think it was a smart decision on her part to announce the matter at this stage,” Aittakumpu commented on Saariko's announcement in the morning.
Center MPs Pekka Aittakumpu and Mika Lintilä are not running for party chairmanship.
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