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Finnish FM loses job over texts | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Finland has appointed a new foreign minister to replace Ilkka Kanerva, who was involved in a scandal over text messages sent to an erotic dancer. | |
Mr Kanerva sent 200 allegedly explicit messages to the dancer, and later made misleading statements about them. | |
The leader of his Conservative party said Mr Kanerva had lost the confidence and general respect that would allow him to stay in the job. | |
The new minister will be Alexander Stubb, aged 40, who is an MEP. | |
'Suggestive' | |
The scandal came to a head on Tuesday when a celebrity magazine, Hymy, published what it said were some of the texts - which were sexually suggestive in nature. | |
Mr Kanerva had initially denied sending the texts, but later admitted it. | |
He had also made headlines by sending similar text messages to various models during his time as deputy speaker of parliament. | |
Earlier on Tuesday, the leader of Mr Kanerva's party said the decision to replace him had been very difficult. | |
"Ilkka is my friend and he has done his job as foreign minister brilliantly," he said. | "Ilkka is my friend and he has done his job as foreign minister brilliantly," he said. |
"In the light of these new developments it is evident that his ability to act as foreign minister has weakened considerably." | "In the light of these new developments it is evident that his ability to act as foreign minister has weakened considerably." |
The new minister will formally be sworn in on Friday. | |
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