Finnish Interior Minister Criticizes PM Over Protection Police Review

Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen has voiced strong displeasure, calling Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's decision to establish a working group to examine the administration of the protection police (Supo) "very peculiar" and "downright dirty pool." Rantanen stated that she and her ministry were only informed of the decision on Tuesday, despite the working group having been decided upon in June.

"It started to p*** me off," Rantanen told Ilta-Sanomat about her initial reaction upon hearing the news from her officials. She believes such reviews should be agreed upon during government program negotiations and that Orpo should have contacted her in June when the review was first considered. Rantanen insists that neither the political leadership nor the top civil servants in her ministry were aware of the initiative.

However, Matti Sarasmaa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, confirmed that the ministry first learned of the decision on Tuesday. He stated that the ministry had not been involved in the working group's establishment process and had not seen a draft of the decision. Sarasmaa did mention ongoing discussions between the ministry and the Prime Minister's office regarding security leadership and preparedness, but clarified these did not directly involve the Supo working group's formation.

Prime Minister Orpo, responding to Rantanen's accusations, asserted that such reviews fall under his authority as Prime Minister. He suggested that the Interior Ministry's state secretary was aware of the review and that the head of the protection police had been proactive in the matter, claims Rantanen disputes. The controversy highlights a significant rift within the Finnish government regarding the oversight and administration of the nation's security intelligence agency.