Minister sacked for SMS sex scandal

Minister sacked for SMS sex scandal	1.04.2008
FINNISH Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva has been forced to quit his job after he bombarded an erotic dancer with mobile phone text messages, a source in Mr Kanerva`s party said today. Asked whether Mr Kanerva had been fired by his party, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, replied: "Kanerva has not resigned himself. You can draw your own conclusions. A new foreign minister will be announced after the party meeting (on Tuesday)." The foreign ministry has not officially confirmed the information, but a statement posted on the ministry`s website today said Mr Kanerva was "on sick leave and his program has been cancelled." The leader of Kanerva`s National Coalition Party, Jyrki Katainen, told the party`s online newspaper Verkkouutiset that Kanerva "no longer enjoys the kind of trust and respect which would make it possible for him to continue as foreign minister." Mr Kanerva, 60, has for several weeks been embroiled in a scandal after he sent around 200 text messages to 29-year-old erotic dancer Johanna Tukiainen whom he met at the end of January. The gossip magazine Hymy today published 24 of his SMS messages, some of which contained flirtatious and sexually suggestive content. Mr Kanerva`s resignation would be the first time in Finland a foreign minister has had to step down because of a personal scandal. Share this article Digg this Post to del.icio.us Post to Newsvine Post to Facebook Add to kwoff
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