Orpo made Kokoomus Chair for second term

Finance Minister Petteri Orpo was re-elected the chair of the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) for the second consecutive term, said a party press release.

He has been elected unopposed at a party council held in of confidence at the party’s summer congress in Turku on Saturday.

The Kokoomus Chair in his speech expressed different views in the party regarding the government´s proposed reforms of regional government, health and social services or the so called Sote reform, reported National broadcaster Yle.

Some members of the Kokoomus parliamentary group already opposed the reform proposal.

News agency Xinhua adds: Even though Orpo had no rivals in the re-election, the highlight of the convention was a debate duel between Orpo and the conservative mayor of Helsinki, Jan Vapaavuori, on the national health care reform. Vapaavuori is very critical of it, while Orpo endorses.

In his keynote address, Orpo criticized the labor unions and the political left for blocking "necessary reforms" in Finland.

In foreign policy, the conservatives maintained their aim of a Finnish membership in NATO. However, persistant demands by the party youth league to put the pursuit of NATO membership into the next government program were rejected. A detailed security policy statement is to be passed on Sunday.

The party members are scheduled to elect three deputy chairs of the party for the next term on Sunday.