Minister for Foreign Affairs Ilkka Kanerva (Nat. Coalition Party) continues to enjoy the confidence of the Parliamentary group of the National Coalition Party. On Tuesday Kanerva gave an account to his Parliamentary group of the controversy that arose over revelations that he had sent numerous text messages to dancer Johanna Tukiainen.
National Coalition Party group leader Pekka Ravi said that Kanerva's explanation of the situation was satisfactory, and that nothing in it casts Kanerva's position into doubt.
"I understand well that the episode causes dissatisfaction among the people", Ravi said. However, he also said that he believes that people have a sense of proportion.
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) says that Kanerva has the confidence of the government as well, in spite of the uproar.
Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen, who is also the chairman of the National Coalition Party, noted that Kanerva's work speaks for itself. The ministers commented on the matter in connection with the government's budget framework talks on Tuesday.
In an interview with the late-edition tabloid Iltalehti, Vanhanen noted that "curiosity and voyeurism seem to be a national amusement".
"The voters will decide", is what Kanerva himself said Tuesday morning when he was asked what kind of impact the furore would have on his political career.
Political scientistHeikki Paloheimo of the University of Tampere told Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday that he does not think that Kanerva's career is in jeopardy over the matter.
"Kanerva's voters already have a high tolerance threshold", he said.
He also noted that the Finnish political culture is such that people tend to ignore adventures by politicians - especially men.
