Finland’s Corruption Affair: Prime Minister’s $ 30 Breakfasts

What in other countries of the world would go unnoticed in Finland has become a real corruption scandal: an investigation found that Prime Minister Sanna Marin uses public funds to feed her family in the morning at the official residence, around $ 30 per day.

The fact was revealed in the local newspaper Ilta-Lehti, which reported in its pages that Sanna Marin would spend around 300 euros per month ($ 367) on breakfast for her family, who live with her in the official residence of Kesäranta.

According to his cabinet, the Prime Minister and members of the same household are entitled to breakfast and cold – not hot – meals when they stay in the official residence, managed by the state. A privilege already enjoyed by his predecessors.

Another version, based on Article 6 of the Ministerial Remuneration Act, grants the head of the Finnish government the use of “an apartment in a state house, including maintenance, heating, lighting. , the furniture and the necessary personnel are paid for by public funds ”. but nothing is said about the breakfast.

In addition, former prime ministers, most of whom did not live in Kesäranta, the official residence of heads of government, were only offered breakfast on an exceptional basis.

With the scandal uncovered, the same newspaper published an article last Sunday with new information indicating that the expenses were actually 850 euros per month ($ 1,040), almost triple what it had originally calculated.

This was confirmed Monday evening in a government statement, which reported that between January 2020 and May 2021, the Prime Minister had spent 14,363.20 euros on food in his official residence, or about 845 euros per month. “This amount includes both breakfast items and other cold meals,” the statement added.

“I had no idea that there was a lack of clarity regarding the allocation of the breakfast,” he told national television station YLE on Monday morning. He noted that many previous prime ministers had used it as well, but assured that the rules would be revised and, if necessary, updated.