Excerpt:
The Finnish Parliament is electing Speakers to lead the legislature for the next four years. The Finns Party candidate, an immigration sceptic, was selected as Speaker of Parliament.
Traditionally Finland's Speaker of Parliament is chosen from the second-largest party in the legislature, with his or her two deputies from the two other biggest parties. On Friday afternoon, MPs voted in relative newcomer Maria Lohela as Speaker, with two veteran pols set to become deputies.
Lohela, a 36-year-old second-term MP, was one of those who signed a 2011 manifesto criticising multi-culturalism and calling for sharp limits on immigration, asylum, and development aid. It was written by former MP Jussi Halla-aho, who has since moved on to the European Parliament.