Do you recognise this smooth haired man with a certain je ne sais quoi mousy greyness? Does he strike you as the sexiest man in Finland, which is how 
Jacques Chirac once famously described him?
He is Matti Vanhanen, the Finnish Prime Minister, who is said to have parted from a lover he met on the internet by sending her a curt text message saying: “that’s it”.
For her, payback time was publishing a kiss-and-tell book designed to embarrass him only days before the Finnish general election on Sunday, but instead his popularity has soared. And one can understand why, when you learn a little about him.
His ex’s revelations include a romantic description of the Prime Minister telling her that her kiss tasted better than an oven- baked jacket potato, his favourite food. Oh dear, was that before or after dinner? And his interests include chopping wood and DIY, so it probably doesn’t take long before the silences start.
Wikipedia says that Vanhanen has been characterised as uncharismatic and even boring, which he has attempted to turn to his advantage in tense political situations. Vanhanen is known for being teetotaler, saying that he doesn’t like the taste of alcohol.
But before you start feeling for sorry him, please don’t, he seems to be doing ok and his latest romantic interest is said to be Merikukka Forsius, 34, a Green politician, who is very attractive. They have been seen dancing cheek to cheek, and the press noted that they both gave presentation speeches for a showing of Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth – an ironic title, in the circumstances.
Can you imagine any Prime Minister spending time on internet chat rooms? Is Vanhanen really a lonely and boring man, should we feel sorry for him? Are there any exciting men in Finland, besides Lordi? I wonder what Jacques Chirac knows about Vanhanen that we don’t…
lol I can’t comment on his sexiness
I know the French (Jacques Chirac) are good at commenting on the sexiness of men & women.
However I’m strictly a bird ‘spotter’
But hey! if he likes oven baked potatoes and chops his own fire wood – he’s cool with me. After all there are still more trees than fins in Finland. lol!
Unusual one for you Ellee . Yet another much younger woman I see . Did you know that the Finns have a slightly different bone structure to everyone else in Europe ,and they are remote linguisticly to the Romance and Germanic peoples.
In other words he starts odd
I wouldn`t sneer at chat rooms if I were you . My brother calls the blogasphere chat rooms without the sex !…..
“…oven baked jacket potato.” Ha ha ha – good grief !
I shouldn’t laugh he’s more sophisticated than me “Your kiss tastes better than Bombay Bad Boy Pot Noodle.”
As for dumping his lover by text he sure knows how to er … Finnish ?
hi ellee,
i followed your link from ian’s blog. i must say you have a most interesting and impressive profile. i took a class last quarter called “comparative political systems,” and it was very interesting learning about other countries and their political systems. may all of your political dreams and aspirations come to fruition.
nice blog. you’ve put a lot of time and effort into.
Can’t see it myself.
Am I missing something?
The sexiest man in Finland? It doesn’t say much for the other Finns then.
What was it “Private Eye” said when the John Major/Edwina story broke? – “It’s the quiet ones with the glasses you should watch!” I just think power attracts some women.
Heiress child, many thanks for the compliment.
Kevin – two great lines from you, thanks for making me laugh: “Your kiss tastes better than Bombay Bad Boy Pot Noodle.â€?
As for dumping his lover by text he sure knows how to er … Finnish ?
David Cameron, has webcameron, so by defintion he does spend time in internet ‘chat’ rooms!
kev has had his comedic boots on all day today !
That’s probably why Finnish Mia is marrying my son 🙂
My pleasure to be making you laugh, Ellee. Sometimes you just have to have a good grin. I know there must seem to be some pugnacity in my writing at times – this is because of limitations in my style and I assure you I never really mean it to be so.
Ahhh…my mind races off in wicked ways…what does Chirac see in him?
He doesn’t look very appealing to me…but I’m pretty picky and choosy! 😉
Seems very strange him spending time chatting on the Internet. That’ll finish him! 😉
I don’t think I’d like my kisses to be compared to roast potatoes! lol I’d be the one saying ‘that’s it!’ to him if that were the case!
Tuh ..I `m always either to early or two late …
Where is Ellee then ?
Newmania, Apologies for the delay in posting this morning – a woman’s work, and all that! Normal services now resumed.