Prime Minister Vanhanen backs down from legal action against tabloid

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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen decided on Monday to back down from legal action against the late-edition tabloid Ilta-Sanomat for violation of privacy.
      On Saturday, the paper reported extensively on SMS messages Vanhanen sent to a woman. The Prime Minister was especially annoyed that Ilta-Sanomat quoted the content of the messages almost verbatim. Moreover, the tabloid claimed that Vanhanen would have sent amorous text messages to several women.
     
After consulting legal experts, Vanhanen said that the case involved violation of communication privacy. He noted, however, that as prime minister his possibilities to sue the paper would be insufficient.
     
Still on Sunday, the Prime Minister and Centre Party Chairman wrote on his weblog that he was considering taking legal action against Ilta-Sanomat. The process could have lasted for up to two years, said Vanhanen.
      Vanhanen was deeply offended by the explanation of Ilta-Sanomat that "the citizens have the right to know how the Prime Minister uses SMS messages to get female company".
     
The Prime Minister said that his personal life has been publicly aired throughout the three years he has been in office. Previously, the Prime Minister has refrained from reacting to what has been written about his private life in the press, "even though the reports have contained a pack of lies and wrong information".
      Ari-Matti Nuutila, Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Turku, denies that communications privacy has been violated in this case, as the content of the message was obtained through legal means. Furthermore, the Prime Minister does not enjoy such protection of privacy that it would be illegal to write about his private life.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Prime Minister Vanhanen considers legal action against tabloid (27.3.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat