New Defense Minister Joins Finland Cabinet

HELSINKI — The head of the party representing Finland’s small Swedish-speaking minority was sworn in Juuly 5 as the country’s new defense minister, the government said.

Carl Haglund, 33, replaced Stefan Wallin, who also recently handed him the reins of the Swedish People’s Party.

Wallin resigned after barely a year in the defense post “citing his wish to spend more time with his family and after serving in three different governments” since 2007, defense ministry spokesman Jyrki Iivonen told AFP.

Haglund, who has been a member of the European Parliament since 2009, is the youngest member of Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen’s broad coalition government.