16/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - Finland shall have a new Prime Minister as of this Thursday, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, following the victory of her party, the Centre, in the general elections on 16th March past. Mrs. Jäatteenmäki had actively worked in favour of the joining of Finland to the European Union (made concrete in 1994), despite the firm opposition of her party's voters to becoming a member of the EU. She has been President of the Centre since January 2002, having covered in the intervening period for Esko Aho, the former Prime Minister, who had taken a sabbatical in the year 2000. With Mrs. Jäätteenmäki as Prime Minister Finland is the only member state of the EU to have 2 women concurrently in the positions of Head of Government and Head of State (by way of Tarja Halonen).