Alongside an account of Ukraine peace talks in Belarus, on its first news page Helsingin Sanomat considers Finland’s role in international affairs, with reports of a new poll showing that support for NATO membership is at its highest since after the war in Georgia over five years ago. The figures show that 26 percent are now in favour of joining the military alliance, with Alexander Stubb’s National Coalition Party (NCP) by far the most vociferous supporters.
Meanwhile the paper reports President Sauli Niinistö’s comments that Finland needs to take a more active and independent role in resolving the Ukraine crisis, despite remaining in line with the EU. Niinistö has maintained an open line of communication with President Putin throughout events in eastern Ukraine, including a visit last week to Sochi and Kiev to meet the leaders of both countries involved in the conflict. Helsingin Sanomat claims that Prime Minister Stubb has himself been frustrated by the EU’s approach to the crisis. The PM tells the paper that he backs the President’s view of the importance of keeping lines open with Russia.
East meets west in Finland
Meanwhile the tabloids are among the papers carrying the news that Finland hosted secret negotiations between US and Russia experts and former officials this June. “This is where east met west,” Ilta-Sanomat’s headline reads, over a picture of Boistö island near Lovisa, where the talks to try and find a resolution to the Ukraine crisis took place.
Although the discussions were “a long way from actual political negotiation and agreement”, they do demonstrate just how deep the divides between the two superpowers are, a former researcher for Finland’s Foreign Policy Institute tells the paper. Finland was chosen as a venue because it enjoys the trust of Russia and Ukraine, she adds.
NCP looks "out of touch"
Elsewhere, on its website Helsingin Sanomat devotes space to analysis of the scandals surrounding the conservative NCP’s health minister, Laura Räty. A commentator argues that moral expectations on Finnish politicians are higher now than three decades ago.
Räty, who is also minister for social care, drew widespread criticism not only for having employed a legally permissible but morally questionable tax-avoidance scheme while she was a medical doctor, but also for claiming that only a handful of Finnish families live on less than 2,100 euros a month.
In fact there are 300,000 households with children within that income bracket.
A professor of politics tells the paper that each party has its own Achilles heel. “For the National Coalition Party, that Achilles heel is the perception of economic corruption. People also fear that the party is out of touch with ordinary Finns, that it doesn’t understand them. People think that NCP politicians live rich lives,” he says.
More tax questions
Turku’s Turun Sanomat reports on more headaches for the NCP, with the news that police and tax inspectors are investigating a company owned by a prospective NCP candidate for next spring’s election.
Tiina Korte-Mattila denies any wrongdoing surrounding the tax affairs of her veterinary practice but, the paper reports, she admits that if prosecutors decide to charge her then it will be the end of her election campaign. “Political nomination and criminal charges don’t mix,” Korte-Mattila says.