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Finnish FM faces sack over texts Finnish FM loses job over texts
(about 2 hours later)
Finland is expected to replace its foreign minister, Ilkka Kanerva, after he allegedly sent suggestive text messages to an erotic dancer. 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.
His party has said he no longer enjoys the confidence and general respect that would allow him to stay in the job. Mr Kanerva sent 200 allegedly explicit messages to the dancer, and later made misleading statements about them.
A magazine has published what it says are some of the 200 texts the minister sent to the dancer. 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.
Mr Kanerva, who is currently on sick leave, has said he did nothing wrong and will not resign. The new minister will be Alexander Stubb, aged 40, who is an MEP.
Mr Kanerva's National Coalition Party - one of the parties in government - is meeting today to discuss the issue, and is expected to announce his replacement. 'Suggestive'
Tough decision 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.
The party's leader, Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen, said he had made the hardest decision of his career as party leader. 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.
But he told the party's online newspaper, Verkkouutiset:
"I have arrived at the conclusion that Kanerva no longer enjoys the sort of confidence and general respect that would make possible his staying in the post of minister.
"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 foreign ministry has said in a statement that Mr Kanerva is "on sick leave and his programme has been cancelled". The new minister will formally be sworn in on Friday.
Mr Kanerva made headlines by sending similar text messages to various models during his time as deputy speaker of parliament.