Lindtman elected SDP Chairperson

The main opposition party in the parliament, Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) on Friday elected Antti Lindtman as its Chairperson.

Lindtman, the leader of SDP´s parliamentary group has been elected the new chairperson at a party council held in Jyväskylä beating another aspirant Krista Kiuru, former Family Affairs and Social Services Minister of the outgoing government by 12,546 votes to 3,587.

The newly elected Chairperson thanked the party leaders, activists and supporters for trusting him and electing him the leader of the party.

Terming the SDP as a party with strong values, Lindtman also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairperson and former Prime Minister Sanna Marin for her strong roles as a party leader and the Prime Minister of the country during her tenure.

"It is difficult to find out exact words to show respect and gratitude to you (Marin)," said the new SDP Chair in his inaugural speech.

Speaking on the occasion, Marin thanked the country people for extending all-out support to her immediate past government regarding its decisions on Ukraine and Finland´s joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

On April 5, Marin announced that she would not continue as the Chairperson of the SDP after the next party council.

Marin made the announcement from a press conference in the parliament just after three days of the parliamentary polls where her party secured third place in the close race election with 43 seats.