Jyrki Katainen - Prime Ministership (2011-present)

Prime Ministership (2011-present)

Following the parliamentary election held on April 17, 2011, Katainen was elected Prime Minister by the new parliament and assumed office on June 22, 2011. His centre-right National Coalition Party became the largest party for the first time in the history of independent Finland. After long and difficult government-forming negotiations, he was elected Prime Minister by the Finnish Parliament, and his government of six parties (National Coalition, Social Democrats, Left Alliance, Greens, Swedish People's Party and Christian Democrats) was formally appointed by President Tarja Halonen on June 22, 2011.

In October 2012, it was reported that security personnel had stopped a knife-wielding assailant from attacking Katainen. Katainen was in southwestern city of Turku, campaigning at the time of the incident.