Centre apprehensive, National Coalition bullish after party conference

THE CENTRE PARTY on Saturday elected Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko as its new chairperson.

The leadership election was decided in the first round of voting, with the media favourite receiving 1,157 of the votes cast at the party conference and bettering both the incumbent candidate, Katri Kulmuni (773 votes), and Petri Honkonen (308 votes).