The leaders of Finland’s three government parties held talks by phone on Wednesday to iron out disagreements and discuss future cooperation.

That follows Tuesday's surprise defection by MP Kaj Turunen from the small Blue Reform Party to its government partner, the conservative National Coalition Party (NCP). The Blues chair, Culture Minister Sampo Terho, accused NCP boss Petteri Orpo of “provocation” and seeking to trigger a government crisis or even collapse. He called for an immediate meeting between the three chairs to discuss the future of the coalition.

Due to work trips, the three will not be able to hold sit-down talks with the Centre leader, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, until next Wednesday, after the long May Day holiday weekend.

In May the centre-right cabinet begins the final year of its legislative term, with a major reform of health and social services still up in the air.

Blues likely to remain in coalition

On Wednesday evening, the Blue Reform’s board is to discuss whether to remain in government following Turunen’s departure. That seems likely. A survey of board members by the Lännen Media newspaper group showed that most want to stay in the cabinet. Lännen Media interviewed 13 of the party’s 17 board members, with nine saying they want the party to remain in government.

Opinion polls indicate that the party, which split off from the populist Finns Party last year, has the support of less than two percent of voters.

The party chairs spoke before news that veteran MP Paavo Väyrynen would quit the Centre Party.