Europe

Centre Party’s Juha Sipila declares victory in Finland’s election

Forecasts by public broadcaster suggest Sipila won 46 seats in 200-member parliament

Juha Sipila of the Centre Party celebrates with his wife Minna at the party’s parliamentary elections reception in Helsinki on Sunday night. Photograph: Jussi Nukari/Reuters
Juha Sipila of the Centre Party celebrates with his wife Minna at the party’s parliamentary elections reception in Helsinki on Sunday night. Photograph: Jussi Nukari/Reuters
Sun Apr 19 2015 - 21:50

Finland’s Centre Party leader Juha Sipila declared victory in Sunday’s general election, saying that the result would open several possible coalition combinations.

“Well, I think this gap will be enough,” Mr Sipila told broadcaster MTV3 when asked if he sees himself a winner after vote forecasts were broadcast. “This result will enable several possible coalition combinations.“

According to forecasts by public broadcaster YLE, Mr Sipila won 46 seats in the 200-member parliament. The centre-right National Coalition and centre-left Social Democrats will both have 37 seats, while the Eurosceptic and Finns Party comes fourth with 35 seats. – (Reuters)