Halla-aho, re-elected Speaker, Risikko, Filatov as Deputies

Former Chair of the radical rightist Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) Jussi Halla-aho was re-elected as Speaker of the Finnish parliament on Tuesday, on the opening day of the spring session.

Halla-aho, who is well-known for his anti-immigration position and was also was convicted of inciting hatred against an ethnic group in 2012, bagged 105 votes in the 200-seat parliament.

Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) lawmaker Paula Risikko and main opposition Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) lawmaker Tarja Filatov were also re-elected as the first Deputy Speaker the Second Deputy Speaker respectively.

In the deputy speaker elections, Risikko received 161 votes and Filatov 124 votes.

Earlier, in June 2023, Jussi Halla-aho was elected as the Speaker and Risikko and Filatov were elected first Deputy speaker and Second Deputy Speaker of the Finnish parliament.

They were also re-elected on February 6, 2024.