Party leader expresses irritation over Foreign Minister's antics

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On Saturday, National Coalition Party chairman, Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen expressed irritation arising from the public uproar over text messages sent to a dancer by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ilkka Kanerva (Nat. Coalition Party).
      Speaking to an audience of more than 400 local party figures in Kouvola, Katainen warned that the fact that someone has done his job well does not justify just any kind of behaviour. "A grown-up man needs to be able to set limits to his actions."
      Katainen complained that in the past week the government has decided on important transport projects in its budget framework talks; however, the media has focused on the Foreign Minister's text messages.
      "It is amusing up to a point, but ultimately it's not terribly funny", Katainen said.
     
Katainen confirmed to Helsingin Sanomat that he had spoken with Kanerva in Brussels on the matter. The Foreign Minister issued a public apology later that night, but Katainen denied that he had ordered Kanerva to express contrition. He said that he expected Kanerva to do it himself.
      "He had the good sense to apologise", Katainen said. "He promised to behave better."
      According to Katainen, a discussion that he held with Kanerva confirmed that he had "no reason to withhold trust".
     
Katainen emphasised that the Foreign Minister had done nothing illegal when sending the text messages, and that according to information that has come out in the news, Kanerva had not caused the recipient of the messages any type of harm.
      According to Katainen, it would have been much more serious if the Foreign Minister had taken advantage of his position in some way. That matter has also been cleared up with Kanerva.
      Some worries were expressed at the Kouvola meeting. Kanerva's performance as Foreign Minister was praised, but concerns were voiced in a couple of comments that some newspaper or magazine might be holding onto a new Kanerva story, waiting for the right moment to release it.
     
Pekka Ravi, Chairman of the National Coalition Party's parliamentary group, insisted that there has been no talk of Kanerva's removal. Another MP suggested that a possible replacement for Kanerva might be Pertti Salolainen, the chairman of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs committee.
      While visiting a local shopping mall, Katainen was bombarded by questions of why Kanerva does not resign. The Minister of Finance was also asked for explanations for MPs' pay rises, low pensions, and the high cost of fuel.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Kanerva apologises over SMS uproar (14.3.2008)
  Kanerva insists in magazine interview that he will not resign (13.3.2008)
  National Coalition Party and government back Kanerva (12.3.2008)
  Foreign Minister admits to sending text messages to dancer (11.3.2008)
  National Coalition Party leader perplexed by Kanerva SMS message uproar (10.3.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat