Mari Kiviniemi appointed new Finnish PM

    HELSINKI, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Finnish President Tarja Halonen on Tuesday appointed（约定的,指定的） Mari Kiviniemi, new leader of the ruling Center Party, as the country's prime minister.
    Kiviniemi, 41, replaced her predecessor(前任) Matti Vanhanen, who resigned last Friday after serving in office for seven years. Kiviniemi is expected to serve as prime minister until the next parliamentary（议会的，国会的） elections, scheduled for April next year.
    As expected, the Centre Party, the National Coalition¹ Party, the Green League and the Swedish People's Party remain in the ruling coalition.
    The new cabinet, which was also appointed on Tuesday, would continue the program of Vanhanen's cabinet.
    The government said its priority was to boost economic growth, while a long-term plan would be developed to help stabilize² faltering³ public finances.
    Kiviniemi, holding a Master's degree in social sciences, has been a member of Finnish Parliament for 15 years. Her career includes serving as foreign trade and development minister as well as public administration and local government minister in Vanhanen's cabinet.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

3 faltering   

犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• I canfeel my legs faltering. 我感到我的腿在颤抖。