Green Parliamentarians criticise MP’s drug use and admission

Party fears impact on European Parliament campaign

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The Parliamentary group of the Green League has criticised the use of cannabis by one of its members, Rosa Meriläinen, and the fact that she talked about it in a magazine interview.
      At a meeting on Thursday, the green MPs discussed at length aspects of Meriläinen’s recent behaviour, but did not make any decisions, because Meriläinen herself went on sick leave on Wednesday evening.
      In an interview with the magazine Image, Meriläinen admitted that she had smoked "a little cannabis" at a party during her time in Parliament. She also said that she did not like the effect of the drug.
     
"Confidence in Rosa is not at a high point in the party", said Green League chairman Osmo Soininvaara.
      Meriläinen was given a sick leave for serious exhaustion already on April 29, but she continued to work after that.
      "When Rosa has recovered somewhat I will have a discussion with her on what kind of behaviour is appropriate to a Member of Parliament", said Satu Hassi, the chairwoman of the Green Parliamentary group.
      "Rosa is an intelligent MP who achieves much, but she has done many things that have caused consternation in the group", Hassi said, but would not go into further detail.
      Helsingin Sanomat has learned that other Green Parliamentarians have criticised Meriläinen’s behaviour during the spring. She recently sparked controversy by wearing a badge with a sexually explicit message, and in her weblog, she referred to the Parliament’s Administrative Committee as a "dog-poo committee".
     
The Greens fear that the furore might hurt the party’s prospects in the campaign for the upcoming elections of the European Parliament. The party’s Parliamentary election campaign last year was shaken by pro-cannabis statements of one of its candidates, Markus Drake. In spite of fears of massive setbacks at the polls, the Greens gained one seat in Parliament.
      Satu Hassi, who is a candidate in the European Parliament elections, would not speculate if Meriläinen might take votes away from her.
      "I am very upset about this, but the fact that I am a candidate in these elections is not the only reason", Hassi said.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  MP admits to cannabis use (6.5.2004)
  Green League youth organisation suspends Chairman due to cannabis row (14.2.2003)

Helsingin Sanomat