Finland Times

The Prime Minister, Jyrki Katainen on Thursday resumed office after a month- long summer holiday and held a meeting with the visiting Japanese Defence minister Itsunori Onodera at  Kesäranta.

On the first day of his office after the vacation, the Premier, however, did not make any comment on the rumour of his quitting office, published in a Finnish language newspaper two weeks ago.

 Although Katainen did not disclose his future plan by himself, the staff of the prime minister office said that the reaction over the media report remained unchanged as the prime minister said earlier.

Earlier, on July 13 the Prime Minister straightway rejected the report of Suomen Kuvalehti that speculated he might quit the positions in the government and the party as well.

He also termed the report as complete lie saying it was published to serve purpose of a vested quarter.

“The news report quoting an unnamed source published in Suomen Kuvalehti is a complete news duck, which has no connection with reality,” said the Prime Minister in a message sent through his special assistant at that time.

“I am not leaving my job. Even it was not discussed with anyone,” said the Prime Minister.

The ruling Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) leaders on July 12 also trashed the media report saying it was a rumour.

The Finnish language newspaper, Suomen Kuvalehti, on July 12 said that the prime minister is supposed to place a proposal before this autumn to quit from his present positions as the prime minister and the party chief.

Katainen might be preparing for the position of a commissioner of the European Union after the EU parliamentary elections scheduled for next year, the paper reported quoting an unnamed source.

The Prime Minister Office also rejected the report instantly.

Katainen on Thursday held meeting with the Japanese Defence Minister Onodera, who started his visit to Finland on Wednesday.

The visit of Onodera coincided with the first Japanese naval visit to Finland as JDS Kashima, the flagship of the Japanese Defence Forces' training fleet, docked into Katajanokka in Helsinki South Harbour on Wednesday morning. 

Secretary General Arto Räty hosted the visit on behalf of the Finnish Ministry of Defence.