Andersson to quit as Vasemmistoliitto Chair

Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance) Chairperson Li Andersson on Tuesday announced that she would not continue as the Chairperson of the party after this autumn.

She also announced to contest in the European parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in June.

“I have already announced at the previous party meeting that this will be my last term as party leader,” Andersson told at a press conference, adding that changing leadership on regular basis will be good for the party and one person should not hold the position for a long time.

She said that she would submit her resignation after the party will elect a new chair in the next council in the autumn as she thought that time would be the most suitable for a change considering the next elections.

Andersson´s tenure as the party chair is scheduled to be continued normally until the council of the party in 2025.

She has been leading the party for the last eight years since 2016.

Andersson, a former Education Minister of the previous government, also expressed her gratitude to the leaders and activists of the party for their supports and all out cooperation during her tenure as the Chairperson of the Vasemmistoliitto.

“I have taken the decision to leave the party chairpersonship independently and it is not related to my candidacy in the European parliamentary election,” she added.

Pointing out the rise of the far-right parties in the EU elections, she said that the Vasemmistoliitto needs to work on climate as well as human rights issues.

"There will be many big issues about the future of Europe in the next few years,” she added.