Slush replaces Marin after criticism from the interviewer
INITIATION EVENT Slush is looking for another interviewer for the Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP), reports Helsingin sanomat newspaper.
Marin was originally supposed to participate in a panel discussion on the role of governments in creating an environment that promotes innovation. Christian Mielean employee of the same private equity firm as her husband, Markus Räikkönen.
The arrangement had aroused concern and criticism in other political parties and the public.
“Slush is an event that highlights companies with a high participation fee. The Prime Minister is absolutely allowed to defend the interests of Finnish companies, but it is questionable why he participates specifically with this company. Jouni Ovaskavice-chairman of the center’s parliamentary group, comment on Friday.
Timo Heinonen (NCP) played down his words.
“Unfortunately, it seems more and more every day that Marin is not in politics to promote the interests of the motherland, but the interests of his own circle,” he said, pointing to Marin’s tweet directed at the then prime minister. Juha Sipilä (center) in 2017.
Marin apologized to Sipila in 2021.
Mari Holopainen (The Greens) stated that while it is positive that the Prime Minister participates in start-up events, she did not make the “levelest” decision in agreeing to an interview with her husband’s colleague.
– I’m sure that there would have been other opportunities to perform at Slush without the discussion about connections. Of course, this setting raises questions about them. So this wasn’t the smartest decision, he noted.
“It is important that people in key political positions are especially careful about conflicts of interest and ties to their close circles,” he reiterated. Veronika Honkasalo (LA).
Marin on Friday stated He told Helsingin Sanomat that he is participating in the event because he believes the event is important and the topics of discussion are very good for Finland.
“Slush is looking for a new interviewer for the discussion to avoid any suspicion of a potential conflict of interest,” he noted.
He told STT the day before that he does not think it is problematic to participate, because the themes of the discussion are of a general nature and coincide with the themes he has spoken on several other occasions. “We are re-examining the participation from the point of view of conflicts of interest and will discuss the matter with the Chancellor of the Exchequer,” he said.
Eerika SavolainenCEO of Slush, told Helsingin Sanomat on Friday that the initiative to change the interviewer came from the Prime Minister’s staff. The original arrangement, he added, was initially not a problem for staff because it was “coordinated” with the Prime Minister’s Office.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT