Jyrki Katainen, the Finnish finance minister

Jyrki Katainen, the Finnish finance minister and Conservative party leader, was quoted as saying by regional daily Turun Sanomat on Tuesday that Matti Vanhanen should step down as prime minister after June's Centre party conference.

Mr Vanhanen announced in December last year he would not stand for re-election as party leader at the Lahti conference but left the question of prime ministership open.

Mr Katainen was quoted as saying that Mr Vanhanen's successor as party leader should take over as prime minister as well.

He went on to reject a proposal by Sauli Niinistö (cons), the speaker of Parliament, to broaden the coalition before next year's general election.

"There should be some sort of grounds for it," Mr Katainen was quoted as saying by Turun Sanomat.

"I disagree with him over [his suggestion] that this government is stopping economic adjustment from taking place."

Mr Niinistö had told the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) that Finland should follow Germany's example and welcome the Social Democrats into the government.

"I consider it queer. It would mean that we would have no functioning opposition. In Germany, the brunt of the public's antipathy was directed at the fact that the grand coalition would carry on."

STT