Govt to add 3 ministers to cabinet

The government experiment of a small size cabinet will come to an end this week, as media reports said three new ministers will be appointed soon.

When the three-party alliance government led by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä of Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party) started in 2015, its size was reduced from 19 to 14 ministers through several combinations of portfolios. In its half term consultations this week, the government decided to enlarge the cabinet to 17 ministers.

The 2015 reform led to workloads that some of the ministers thought were overwhelming. Furthermore, the combination of the portfolios of Labour and Justice was also considered problematic.

As agreed earlier this week, Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) member Jari Lindström will continue with his job as the Labor Minister, whereas the conservative National Coalition Party will pick up the new Justice Minister.

Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) Chairman and Finance Minister Petteri Orpo underlined on Wednesday the need to improve legislative expertise and the post is likely to go to a young MP with legal education.

Among other expected office duty transfers, the Agricultural and Environmental portfolios will be separated again, according to reports. The post has belonged so far to the Center Party. Local media predicted that the incumbent Kimmo Tiilikainen will keep the environmental portfolio and a new appointee chosen by the Center Party's parliamentary caucus on Thursday will take agriculture affairs.

Foreign Minister Timo Soini, of the Finns Party, will surrender his European affairs duty to one of his party members, who will also get Culture and Sports affairs from the conservative Education Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, reports said.