Jussi Halla-aho made Perussuomalaiset Chair

The Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), the second biggest component of the three-party ruling alliance on Saturday elected Jussi Halla-aho as the Chairman of the party.

The populist party of the country convened in Jyvaskyla, central Finland where the party councilors elected the hardliner politician as their new leader.

The newly elected Jussi Halla-aho is currently a Member of European Parliament. Known for his strict anti-immigration views, he got 949 votes in the first round.

Halla-aho's main competitor, Minister for culture Sampo Terho got 629 votes. Terho had been largely perceived as the candidate of the party management.

Halla-aho succeeds Timo Soini, who has led the Perussuomalaiset for 22 years and guided the party into the ruling coalition in 2015.

Reactions from the rest of the Finnish political scene were intense. Prime Minister Juha Sipilä said the Perussuomalaiset is "no longer the same party that joined the coalition" in 2015.

Sipilä said he would meet Halla-aho on Monday morning.

With the election of Halla-aho, the chance of Soini to continue as foreign minister is uncertain, even if the coalition would survive.

Soini said earlier he would like to continue, but Halla-aho said during his campaign he did not like the idea.

Local analysts believed the party is likely to adopt a more right wing stance. Although Soini has been strongly value conservative, he has at the same time underlined the importance of the social safety net.

The future of the Finnish coalition government also looks worse now. Another coalition party, Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) has said it would not be in the same cabinet with Halla-aho.

Party leader Petteri Orpo said on Saturday he would now consult the party executive.

If the Perussuomalaiset leaves the coalition, Sipilä may ask the Suomenruotsalainenkansanpuolue (Swedish People’s Party of Finland-RKP) and the Suomen Kristillisdemokraatit (Christian Democrats of Finland) to join. With them, the government would have a small majority.

The chairman of the Swedish People's Party on Saturday said the party would be available "for patriotic service".