Journalists dumbfounded by Vanhanen's instructions to ministers

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Chairman Arto Nieminen at the Union of Journalists in Finland finds Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's (Centre Party) latest publicity policy instructions to his ministers "nothing short of bizarre".
      Last week the Finnish News Agency STT sent all the ministers a questionnaire, in which they were asked if they had paid their TV licence fees, or if they have paid for domestic help without paying proper taxes. The STT move was prompted by the recent tax and TV licence scandals in Sweden that have already led to the dismissal of two ministers.
      Vanhanen's instructions to his ministers were that they did not have to answer the questions.
     
"Something like that can only raise suspicions", Nieminen points out. He notes that Vanhanen himself has emphasised the importance of transparency in the EU. "Would it not be a good idea to start from one's own nest first?"
      Nieminen points out that ridding Finland of grey labour is one of the present government's primary objectives. Likewise, the Vanhanen administration strongly supports the collecting of the TV licence fee. "These are not private matters for individuals in a public office such as the government", Nieminen states.
      According to communication legislation expert Timo Vuortama, Vanhanen's policy represents a new, limited openness in Finland. "It seems he is advocating the shifting of matters previously considered public under the umbrella of privacy protection."
     
"This can only lead to a more closed society", Vuortamo says. In his view, the journalists' responsibility is to oppose such development.
      He also points out that the Prime Minister is morally obligated to put exercising openness into practice. Vuortamo is of the opinion that for ministerial level politicians the "primary truth" should be that their scope of privacy is narrower than that of average citizens.
      The chairman of the Union of Political Journalists, Tuomo Yli-Huttula, says he is "dumbfounded" by Vanhanen's views. He offers the reminder that until now Finland has always been considered the flag-bearer of openness and democracy.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  PM urges ministers not to answer questions of minor tax evasion and TV licence fee dodging (16.10.2006)
  Sweden and Finland pledge to keep each other informed of NATO plans (16.10.2006)

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