Fri 28 May 2021:
Police in Finland announced on Friday that they will investigate whether the prime minister’s breakfasts have been illegally subsidised using taxpayers’ money.
According to a report by the tabloid Iltalehti, Prime Minister Sanna Marin’sfamily uses public money amounting to 300 euros a month to purchase groceries delivered to her residence. In contrast, President Sauli Niinistö pays for his food himself.
The Prime Minister’s Office justifies the expense on the grounds that the premier and her household are entitled to use state revenue for breakfast supplies and cold meals during their stay at Kesäranta, the official residence of Finland’s prime minister.
While opposition figures accused the PM of being left with egg on her face, the 35-year-old head of government insisted that the perk was also given to her predecessors.
“As prime minister I have not asked for this benefit nor been involved in deciding on it,” Marin said on Twitter.
Legal experts consulted by the media subsequently suggested that using taxpayers’ money to pay for the prime minister’s morning meal may in fact contravene Finnish legislation.
In the statement, detective superintendent Teemu Jokinen said the investigation will focus on the decisions of officials inside the prime minister’s office, and “in no way relates to the prime minister or her official activities.”
