Next time you put up a prediction, Phil, try not to wait until after the event that you’re forecasting has happened. Surf around a bit, and you’ll find out what the Centre Party decided.

By the way, Väyrynen is in.

Yeah, Lintilä is out and Väyrynen is in. It was Kaikkonen who was the alternative to Väyrynen and he lost out quite narrowly in the end.

I quite like Paula Lehtomäki. One look at Väyrynen and her appeal is there. I don’t like her old portfolio going to Väyrynen.

It would be cool to know what her old subordinates think, is it more like “Yay, we got Väyrynen” or “Oh no, we’ll lose Paula to another ministry”?

Btw. did anyone notice what Vehviläinens new portfolio (transport) is in Finnish: “väyläministeri”. That sounds tacky and would have rhymed with “Väyrynen”. In the old days minister of transport used to be called “kulkulaitosministeri”.

Phil: “Finance Ministry – Mari Kiviniemi?? (The new Tanja Saarela of the cabinet?)”

Surely you jest. Kiviniemi has immensely more political clout than Saarela ever did. Or respectability, ability and, it seems, intellect.

Väyrynen. Oh for God’s sake! WTF! ¤”#%#¤%#¤”%#”¤%K#¤”LÖ%K#¤”LÖ%K#¤ÖL%

Jesus f*ing Christ. Next time I’m gonna vote for f*ing Left Alliance. Go Centre! Go Kokoomus! Dynamic politics indeed.

Drakon: I agree. I think Kiviniemi is an improvement to the cabinet. Is it really finance ministry where she’ll be? I thought municipalities was a part of the ministry of the interior.

Phil: Apart from Väyrynen you missed out on minister of agriculture. That’ll be Sirkka-Liisa Anttila.

(The Swedish-speakers have only a handful of MPs yet two ministerial positions!)

Both of Sfp’s ministers are not the “head” ministers in their ministries unlike those of the Greens.

Also, it is hard to have a functional ministerial group with just 1 person in it.

So, from now on Paavo Väyrynen and Ilkka Kanerva will represent Finland at international level. Why, oh why do they punish us like this?

I quite like the SFP and Green ministers; hope they’ll prove to be a much better choice than the Christian Democrats would have been as a minor party of government.

Kokoomus’ list of ministers is not impressive. I think some of their other appointments such as Niinistö as Speaker and Salolainen as chairman of foreign affairs committee are ok. I hope Anne Holmlund will be an improvement to the interior portfolio but I have no idea of who she is.

Keskusta list sends a double message. Much of the list sounds relatively good and a general improvement to their previous cabinet team but Väyrynen having that portfolio sends some serious shockwaves.

JG: ministry of labour will be abolished by the year’s end and then Pekkarinen will be the head and Cronberg the second minister of the new “superministry”.

Now the only thing missing is Kekkonen coming back alive and becoming a President.

@5 Väyrynen. Oh for God’s sake! WTF!

Thats why they have Hys-hys-Hyssälä in STM, so that people won’t drink themselves to death… I started though after reading the news.

@5 Väyrynen. Oh for God’s sake! WTF!

Thats why they have Hys-hys-Hyssälä in STM, so that people won’t drink themselves to death… I started though after reading the news.

Don’t worry Passer-by: Väyrynen or Kanerva as the next President would not only well and truly equal Kekkonen coming back alive, such an eventuality would surpass that great ghost story.

What about Väyrynen vs. Kanerva in the second round of the 2012 presidential election? Now that would give the voters a choice.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Karl_Marx

“Hegel remarks somewhere that history tends to repeat itself. He forgot to add: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce.”
(Karl Marx: The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, 1852)

But something like that would first have to happen for Marx to have his prediction of history to run its course. I hope for better presidential candidates in 2012.

Heh, the heirs of Kekkoslovakia, who betted for the wrong horse got their bright future afterall.

I feel sorry for the Finnair stewardesses, when the dynamic duo starts representin’

Antti, you’re not saying that Kanerva will ask for the mobile number of the stewardess, are you?

That is if Paavo has finally got his fingers to behave…

http://www.iltasanomat.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/uutinen.asp?id=1353189

Just look at that picture. I join Hank W. and open my Koskenkorva now.

But seriously, power often gets to the head of the politician. Few politicians ever have had as much power as Bill Clinton and wasn’t that when he found it quite hard to behave?

And we’re still talking about the sexual revolution generation. People of that generation were first told what the rules are (Väyrynen, for example, had a laestadian upbringing) and then the next thing they knew was that there are no rules. The younger politicians have known from day one what sexual harassment is. These guys grew up in a different atmosphere – any moves are good moves.

Well, Väyrynen and Kanerva in the same government, dig up Ulf Sundqvist and the old gang would be back together… Some “dynamic” and “forward looking” line-up this.

Väyrynen and Kanerva are but two of the ministers in the new cabinet. This is the first government with a female majority and that will be interpreted as forward looking. Many of the younger politicians wanted portfolios with less travel than those in the foreign ministry; this is why the old men got those two appointments.

Having Väyrynen and Kanerva around is a relief to all the other ministers as they’ll keep the tabloids busy and few ministers want to be tabloid fodder the way Vanhanen has been for the past four years. Maybe Vanhanen himself thinks the dynamic duo will keep the press off of his back.

I don’t know, that sounds like a much too facile a way to choose cabinet ministers – surely the tabloids weren’t the cause? Choosing Kanerva is just plain inexclicable to me. Well, I have never really understood Kokoomus anyway.

What an interesting theory, Helsinkian. First we must consider the feelings of those poor young things with their child-minding problems and not blame them for stepping aside and letting us get stuffed by Kanerva and Vittumies, and now you tell us the terrible twins are actually only up there as decoy-ducks to deflect the unwanted attention of the tabloids from other targets. This is a staggering way to run a fucking BALLROOM (see Derek and Clive Live), let along a government.

But like I said, nothing surprises me any more. I was willing to give this turn to the right a shot, but now I’m joining the drinking classes.

These are SHAMEFUL appointments. Shameful. Two discredited yesterday’s men and a woman who doesn’t know which money belongs to the State and which to the caddiemaster. I’m only shocked they didn’t give her Justice to preserve continuity after the alleged misdemeanours of the admittedly inadequate Luhtanen.

Shame on you Finland. You have unwittingly unleashed Kekkoslovakia: The Sequel

Why would Kanerva be picked as FM?
* Paavo Väyrynen was FM for a very long time. If he fits the bill, why wouldn’t Kanerva? Kanerva is quite appealing to many if compared to Väyrynen.
* Kanerva is the leading name among the left wing of the conservatives. Picking someone to the left is calculated to appeal to the great middle of the voters; a politician very much to the right could have been a risky choice for FM.
* Kanerva used to date Paula Koivuniemi. That gives him credibility among Paula Koivuniemi’s fan base.
* He does attract tabloid journalists, which is good for everybody else.
* He wanted the job. Young people with children (that includes Katainen and Lehtomäki) don’t want that job. Any other but not FM.
* Some people believe he sends good vibes to Moscow.
* Kanerva has been a consistent vote-getter in Turku. The people there have just loved him for over thirty years.
* He is known to have handled his job as Holkeri’s shadow (his cabinet job with no portfolio at all in the Holkeri cabinet) quite well. A lot of people got a bad rep from the Holkeri team, Kanerva apparently didn’t.
* Kanerva brings Kekkonen nostalgia with him. Some people long for Kekkonen.
* If Pertti Salolainen called himself “Finland’s Bill Clinton” more than a decade ago, that title might today be more fitting for Kanerva. Finland loves Bill Clinton (and copycats).
* Politics is a bit of a farce and a bit of a circus. Kanerva knows how to play that card. He is colorful and he’s a showman (and don’t forget Paula Koivuniemi).
* Many people think he is a joke. That’s how politics really interests people these days, as a collection of good jokes. Uutisvuoto, Itse valtiaat, that’s how politicians get known. Kanerva is like this cartoon character who fits the bill for a postmodern foreign minister.
* He has been in politics for such a long time that nothing is foreign to him. That’s why he gets to be foreign minister.

What about Paavo? Every time somebody mentions him I just start smiling, if not laughing! I don’t know why, but he’s so much fun! And the most unbelievable of it, he’s a minister. Fucking whinebag, what a sadvote, they let him be one

“Kanerva is quite appealing to many if compared to Väyrynen.”

That’s a bit like comparing blind-deaf-mute quadriplegia to being in a coma, Helsinkian. I guess being blind, deaf, and without the use of your mouth, arms and legs would seem marginally better. However, there are a few WHOLE individuals – one must assume – in both those parties. And frankly, they are there to SERVE – that’s what public service is all about, and they could just as easily have chosen a Bulevardi legal practice instead – and not to faff around worrying about picking up the kids from their private kindergarten. Get a nanny, you’re earning enough!

And I know you are jesting… nobody who plays the “Paula” card could be serious. But there are good jokes, and bad, stale ones we’ve all heard before. Kanerva and Väyrynen don’t make anyone laugh anymore.

Another question of course is why Väyrynen gets his portfolio. I probably already stated my guess but that will a) make the voters of Lapland really happy b) placate the conservative farmer wing of Keskusta c) forward the cause of regional balance in the cabinet d) he is the number one Euroskeptic in Finland e) Finland is supposed to know how to deal with Moscow f) he has the longest experience of them all g) for the Kekkonen fans he’s the next best thing h) he’s been around so long that he has mentored many of the younger politicians i) he’s another solid vote-getter j) he brings more comedy to the arena k) nobody knows like Väyrynen to get what he wants.

This is of course only the Finnish tabloid reader voice speaking, but you should get a load of these:

http://www.iltasanomat.fi/keskustelu/lukijanviesti.asp?id=3044677

Do they sound like they are laughing?

The Väyrynen pick is pretty darn bad. The man is utterly insufferable and liable to go off the reservation on EU and NATO. Why on earth would Vanhanen give him anything? Let him go back to the European Parliament and be glad that he’s out of the country.

Kanerva’s selection is easier to understand. Assuming Salolainen and Niinistö are unwilling, the Coalition doesn’t have many politicians with foreign policy experience. Kanerva has served on the Foreign Affairs Committee for a long time, has at least some international experience from the world of sports, and is willing to take the job.

And don’t forget Vapaavuori with his rap sheet. Does the qualifications for minister position require criminal record?

30. No.. That’s more of a cheap shot. The assault was as a teenager, the shoplifting thing I’m not sure about, and the 0.9 drink-driving could be anyone of you or me, however high and mighty we might want to sound on some crummy message board. If you want to pick a fight with Vapaavuori, grumble at his “give me the land or I’ll hit you” stance over Sipoo, or worry that he’s dangerously close to the far right of the party.

People’s actions in office that are either not in the best interests of the country (many of Paavo’s tricks from the past, including the famed Vladimirov incident) or that betray the trust of the voters by lapses of honesty (Lindén, Juhantalo, et al) are to my mind far greater sins than some youthful follies a la Vapaavuori. There but for the grace of God go quite many teenagers. Even YOU.

…and I don’t even LIKE Vapaavuori.

“Minister of Social Affairs and Health – Liisa Hyssälä?? (God I hope this prediction is wrong, she’s pure evil)”

Speaking of health (heh, pardon my lame segue to a self-serving question)….

I’m looking for laser dentistry. So far, I’ve only found one facility in Helsinki (laseri.fi) and it’s busy until October. I found several in tiny little Estonia though.

Anyone know of any laser dentists near Helsinki?

Paavo FOR THE WIN!!!

He’s really experienced politician and a minister. He has just become a clown of the nation, mostly because of the media. People tend to taunt him even when they know NOTHING about his accomplishments. Every little mistake is remembered ofcourse. He’s become a joke without real reason.

I guess someone is going to list them now again.

I don’t want to sound like an ultrafeminist or anything but why is Phil trying to find another bimbo-minister here? They all seem qualified and if he’s just shooting in the dark then why not hypothesize about male bimbos (mimbos) too?

Anyway, I could never in my wildest nightmares have thought of such a hideous line-up as Kanerva and Väyrynen. Gonna be an interesting term…

“resigned from her position some years ago when she gave 1 million of your tax money to her golf club”
100.000 FIM = 17.000e

http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Apulaisoikeuskansleri+Lind%C3%A9nin+saama+huomautus+ei+est%C3%A4+ministeriytt%C3%A4/1135226638347

Don’t kill yourself yet, Hank, wait a bit. There’s good things on the way: http://www.papa.partio.fi/index.php?ryhma=1&sivu=3881

From wiki: kun Ilta-Sanomat paljasti hänen myöntäneen 170 000 euron avustukset Sankivaaran golfkeskukselle, …

So what is it? 17 or 170k?
Anyways, she did something wrong, resigned because of that and now she’s back in the same job. That’s a clear sign of what kind of people we’re dealing with in this new government. Also S-L Anttila is not to be trusted!

“(The Swedish-speakers have only a handful of MPs yet two ministerial positions!)”

That sounds like “bitch bitch bitch” to me.

#18

I love the hand gesture in that pic. It’s very telling about him

@31: No, the Finnish limit for drunk-driving is lax (0,5 promille) so that the yous and mes can still drive after negligible amount of drinking. But Vapaavuori’s 0,9 is twice that. It’s a serious crime and not everyone would do it, rest assured. What’s more, it’s Vapaavuori himself who is soo high and mighty as he always is demanding tougher sanctions, yet has such a criminal record himself. The assaults done as teenager can certainly be forgiven, though not forgotten, after these two decades, but the recent drunken driving can not be. And here’s the Kokoomus double standard again: one of their actually intelligent politicians, Sirpa Pietikäinen, lost her career for drunk driving – when she moved her car a few meters in a parking place! Yet when this tough-talking male commits offenses far worse, you are telling us that “oh, it’s nothing, everyone could do the same”. Sad, really, and scarily somewhat similar to the whole mess of Tony Halme.

@35 & @37: It’s 170 000 euros in official documents, so 1 million markkaa; Hesari seems to have made a big mistake in that article understating the offence:

http://www.finlex.fi/fi/viranomaiset/foka/2002/20021723

This kind of stuff tends to happen to Kokoomus politicians. Remember Jyri’s older brother, Kari Häkämies, and his sentence for assault and grievous bodily injury among others. And he had been both Interior Minister and – of course – Justice Minister…