Foreign Minister Tuomioja attributes foreign policy criticism to Presidential politics
Erkki Tuomioja
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Liisa Jaakonsaari
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Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) feels that recent criticism of Finnish foreign policy is motivated by the personal ambitions of the critics, manoeuvring by opposition politicians, and the next Presidential elections.
As Tuomioja sees it, the Presidential game was opened by Risto E.J. Penttilä, head of the Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA), who sharply criticised the performance of President Tarja Halonen last spring, and called on her to give up her power or her office after her first term.
Tuomioja was speaking on a television interview programme on Saturday morning.
The Foreign Minister also made reference to Tapani Ruokanen, editor-in-chief of the news magazine Suomen Kuvalehti, who wrote in late October that Finland’s foreign policy line had changed. Ruokanen urged Halonen to give up after one term to prevent serious damage.
Also voicing criticism recently has been conservative MEP Alexander Stubb, who has dismissed the present foreign policy as "pitiful tinkering", and MP Liisa Jaakonsaari (SDP), who feels that Finnish foreign policy lacks leadership and vision. Leaders of the National Coalition Party have also been repeatedly criticising the foreign policy of the present government.
The critics are united by their support for Finnish membership in NATO, which the President and the government do not support.
As Tuomioja sees it, EVA has the view that the Finnish people vote the wrong way. "The people choose the wrong leaders, who, on top of everything else, have the wrong opinions. Apparently EVA’s criteria for strong leadership is to act contrary to what the people want. I think that democracy deserves more respect than that."
"I certainly cannot abide such deep elitism and contempt of democracy that the statements from EVA represent", Tuomioja said.
Jaakonsaari said on the same programme that she had criticised the government’s recent defence policy report, and not so much the country’s foreign policy leaders. In her view the conclusions drawn in the report are antiquated, and lack direction.
In Tuomioja’s view, Jaakonsaari is "somewhat alone" in her criticism.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 1.11.2004 - TODAY |
 Foreign Minister Tuomioja attributes foreign policy criticism to Presidential politics |
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