Finnish PM - elect begins talks on the rescue of Portugal (PA) plan

HELSINKI - elected Prime Minister of Finland Tuesday delayed Government formation talks, launch more uncertainty in the plans of the euro area for the rescue of the Portugal and other financial aid to member countries short of money.

Acting Finance Minister said he will begin talks immediately with legislators and parliamentary groups, the application in the new Parliament quickly decide the support of the Finland to the Portugal and other aid measures, even if they reject.

"If the majority in the Parliament of Finland is of the opinion that it is in the interest of the Finland to cancel all European decisions then that is what I'm going to go and tell them to Brussels," Jyrki Katainen told journalists, referring to a meeting of May 16 of the Finance Ministers of the euro area in the Belgian capital.

If the small Nordic country, where the Government's decisions on major policy of the European Union are subject to the approval of Parliament, to vote against a Portuguese rescue program, European installation of financial stability would be paralyzed. If it abstains only, the other countries of the euro area could in theory go ahead with a plan to rescue without Finnish contributions.

The Katainen conservative National Coalition Party, a strong supporter of the European Union and the 17-member euro zone, has won the Finnish elections on 17 April, leaving him the task of forming a new majority government. But the nationalist true Finns party, which opposes the rescues made sizable gains, the election sending fears across Europe, that the Finland could derail the plans of the 17-nation euro zone.

True Finnish leader Timo Soini said his party, as the third force policy of the country, wants to be the next Coalition but will continue to oppose rescue packages.

Despite the opposition of a potential Government partner, Katainen was optimistic.

"We began to explore the possibilities of a new Government." The atmosphere was good, the atmosphere was constructive, "said Katainen. "There is no cause for concern." We can get a whole Government. ?

Katainen, who earlier insisted that coalition members accept the Finland for aid commitments to the Portugal a sine qua non condition to join the Government, refused to comment Tuesday on whether the true Finns could be a member in the next Government.

He said that the Government formation talks begin officially on 18 may, more than a week later than expected previously.

View the original article here