Antti Häkkänen, Finland's Minister of Defence and a vice-chairman of the National Coalition Party, has declared his intention to stand for re-election as vice-chairman in the upcoming party congress. He made this announcement via a post on his Facebook account, emphasizing that he fully supports Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's continuing leadership of the party. This development indicates a stable leadership dynamic within the party as they prepare for future challenges.

Häkkänen’s decision not to challenge Orpo comes amidst discussions within the National Coalition Party about its direction and leadership. Orpo has expressed a desire to continue leading the party, and both Häkkänen and Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen confirmed their support for him during a recent interview. This unity among the party's prominent figures is critical as they gear up for the party congress scheduled for June in Jyväskylä.

The upcoming congress in June is expected to address several important issues affecting the party and potentially set the stage for its electoral strategy moving forward. With Häkkänen reaffirming his commitment to the party’s vice-chairmanship rather than pursuing a leadership challenge, it reflects a broader strategy to maintain party cohesion while navigating Finland's political landscape.