Finland's likely next prime minister today ruled out proposing major changes to a bailout package for Portugal.

Seeking to reassure jittery European neighbours worried that Finland could block plans to provide aid for Portugal, and thus create turmoil in markets, National Coalition party leader Jyrki Katainen predicted little change in Finland's stance.

"We'll see what is possible, but anyway, the changes would not be very big," Mr Katainen told reporters. He said that either the current government or the one he hopes to lead would deal with the question of a bailout for Portugal.

Mr Katainen said the next Finnish government would come up with a plan that maximised its voice in international forums.

And in what could be seen as a signal to the anti-euro True Finns party, Mr Katainen said all parties that joined the next coalition would need to back the government's programme.

The True Finns emerged as the third biggest party in Sunday's election. Their charismatic leader, Timo Soini, has said he expects the European Union to change its plans for a bailout of Portugal.

Finland's parliament, unlike others in the euro zone, has the right to vote on EU requests for bailout funds.

The right-leaning National Coalition is expected to approach the True Finns and opposition Social Democrats to discuss forming a majority government.

The True Finns won 19.0 per cent of the vote in the election, securing 39 of parliament's 200 seats, up from five in 2007.

The National Coalition, which won the election with 20.4 percent, has 44 seats while the Social Democrats, on 19.1 per cent, have 42 seats.

Reuters