Public Administration and Local Government Minister Mari Kiviniemi, 41, gestures as she won with 1,357 votes in a close second round of voting against Economic Affairs Minister Mauri Pekkarinen, 62, who received 1,035 votes at the Centre Party Congress in Lahti, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Helsinki on June 12, 2010. Finland's ruling Centre Party elected a young woman minister Saturday to replace Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen at its helm, leaving her set to succeed him as premier in coming weeks. AFP PHOTO / LEHTIKUVA / Heikki Saukkomaa *** FINLAND OUT ***
Public Administration and Local Government Minister Mari Kiviniemi, 41, gestures as she won with 1,357 votes in a close second round of voting against Economic Affairs Minister Mauri Pekkarinen, 62, who received 1,035 votes at the Centre Party Congress in Lahti, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Helsinki on June 12, 2010. Finland's ruling Centre Party elected a young woman minister Saturday to replace Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen at its helm, leaving her set to succeed him as premier in coming weeks. AFP PHOTO / LEHTIKUVA / Heikki Saukkomaa *** FINLAND OUT *** © AFP | AFP
Mari Kiviniemi, new Chairman of the ruling Center Party, reacts, at the Parliament in Helsinki, Finland, Friday, June 18, 2010. Kiviniemi is expected to be named prime minister next week to replace Matti Vanhanen who resigned on Friday. (AP Photo, Lehtikuva, Vesa Moilanen) ** FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. **
Mari Kiviniemi, new Chairman of the ruling Center Party, reacts, at the Parliament in Helsinki, Finland, Friday, June 18, 2010. Kiviniemi is expected to be named prime minister next week to replace Matti Vanhanen who resigned on Friday. (AP Photo, Lehtikuva, Vesa Moilanen) ** FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. ** © AP | AP
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen tenders his resignation to Finnish President Tarja Halonen at the president's office in Helsinki, Finland Friday, June 18, 2010, to end his seven years in office. Center Party's 41-year-old Mari Kiviniemi was chosen to replace Vanhanen as party leader and Kiviniemi is expected to be nominated as new prime minister. (AP Photo/Lehtikuva/Kimmo Mantyla) ** FINLAND OUT NO SALES **
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen tenders his resignation to Finnish President Tarja Halonen at the president's office in Helsinki, Finland Friday, June 18, 2010, to end his seven years in office. Center Party's 41-year-old Mari Kiviniemi was chosen to replace Vanhanen as party leader and Kiviniemi is expected to be nominated as new prime minister. (AP Photo/Lehtikuva/Kimmo Mantyla) ** FINLAND OUT NO SALES ** © AP | AP
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen waves to the media after tendering his resignation to Finnish President Tarja Halonen, not pictured, at the president's office in Helsinki, Finland Friday, June 18, 2010, to end his seven years in office. Center Party's 41-year-old Mari Kiviniemi was chosen to replace Vanhanen as party leader and Kiviniemi is expected to be nominated as new prime minister. (AP Photo/Lehtikuva/Kimmo Mantyla) ** FINLAND OUT NO SALES **
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen waves to the media after tendering his resignation to Finnish President Tarja Halonen, not pictured, at the president's office in Helsinki, Finland Friday, June 18, 2010, to end his seven years in office. Center Party's 41-year-old Mari Kiviniemi was chosen to replace Vanhanen as party leader and Kiviniemi is expected to be nominated as new prime minister. (AP Photo/Lehtikuva/Kimmo Mantyla) ** FINLAND OUT NO SALES ** © AP | AP
Finland's center party new chairwoman Mari Kiviniemi speaks during an event in Helsinki, Finland, 12 June 2010. The Minister of Public Administration and Local Government Mari Kiviniemi was elected to the chairmanship of the Centre Party earlier in the day. Her election all but assures that she will become Finland's next Prime Minister. EPA/PEKKA SIPOLA FINLAND OUT +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Finland's center party new chairwoman Mari Kiviniemi speaks during an event in Helsinki, Finland, 12 June 2010. The Minister of Public Administration and Local Government Mari Kiviniemi was elected to the chairmanship of the Centre Party earlier in the day. Her election all but assures that she will become Finland's next Prime Minister. EPA/PEKKA SIPOLA FINLAND OUT +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa