Regime change in Finland!

[Stefu]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

THAT'S WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU PLAY WITH FIRE, ANNELI

Krhm.

Basically, Finland's PM Anneli Jäättenmäki is withdrawing from the PM post over a scandal over leaked government notes over Iraq war.

If we all clap our hands maybe this'll lead to the long-needed downfall of the Centre Party.

[BeBMan]

I bet the US is behind it

[Eli]

What leaked goverment notes?

[Stefu]

Discussions between Dubya and ex-PM Paavo Lipponen which gave the impression that Paavo had committed Finland to the Coalition of the Billing, I mean Willing (understandably this would have been politically rather a suicidal action). Anneli presented them in her webpage and nimbly won the election, then lied about how she had received the information.

[DinoDoc]

What's wrong with Anneli? Was she better or worse than Paavo?

[chequita guevara]

How did she say she got them and how did she actually get them?

[Stefu]

What's wrong with Anneli? Was she better or worse than Paavo?

She's from the Centre Party, which is an anachronistic, blatantly populist and evil. That's wrongness enough.

Using classified government information to win elections is pretty bad, too.

How did she say she got them and how did she actually get them?

Basically, the notes were leaked by Martti Manninen, an advisor to President Halonen. Anneli first evaded how she got the notes, then said that he didn't ask for Manninen to give notes to her. Manninen says that Anneli actively sought out for information about Iraq discussions, and apparently he has information to back his words.

There's a political saying in Finland - "Kepu will always betray". (Kepu being an informal nickname for Centre Party.) This was supposed to be the new Kepu that won't betray.

[Kassiopeia]

Apparently the cabinet will remain the same, save for the PM and whoever of the ministers becomes the new PM. The new PM will probably be from the Centre, possibly the minister of defence Vanhanen. In other words, the Centre Party won't meet its demise, unless by some miracle new elections are held. So the only change'll be the PM, but I'm still happy with that since we'll get rid of that harp.

Then again, a week ago the resignation of Jäätteenmäki was considered quite unlikely...

[Pekka]

I'm happy that she stepped down, but what makes it even better is that the Sledge Hammer is not about to take the job. I don't care what party the PM is from as long as it's not The Sledge Hammer.

[VetLegion]

Kimi Raikonen for president!

Btw., tell us some more things about finn politics. Will you be building any more nuclear reactors? What about that hill that you want back from Russians to hold olympics on?
What are the issues that win you elections in Finland these days?

[Pekka]

The most important issue is the area of Karelia, which Russians stole from us illegally. And that is the reason why we are about to build one more reactor, because .. I can't tell you, but you get the idea.

[Kassiopeia]

Will you be building any more nuclear reactors?

Aside the fifth one? None are planned. Then again, the Green party isn't in the cabinet and probably won't be, so who knows...

What about that hill that you want back from Russians to hold olympics on?

Huh? There's Karelia, but it's not a hill, nor do we want to hold olympic games there... and it isn't generally considered realistic to demand it back. There are the descendants of the Karelian evacuees, but otherwise no one really cares.

[Stefu]

Don't believe Pekka, Carelia is a side note.

Basically, the big issues are the same as everywhere - "My party can run the government better than your party" and "No, no, my party can run the government twice as good plus infinity better than your party." There weren't really any important issues at stake during the last election.

[Pekka]

Sure.. but what a beautiful side note it is...

[Kassiopeia]

Yay, we made it to CNN.com.

HELSINKI, Finland (Reuters) -- Finland's Prime Minister Anneli Jaatteenmaki said she would resign on Wednesday evening after she used leaked secret state information on Iraq during March parliamentary elections.

"If trust goes, it goes. I do not have that trust," Jaatteenmaki told a packed news conference at the parliament. "I did not ask for secret papers."

Suuurrrrre.