Minister Multala admits being drunk at Ruisrock. Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva
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Finland’s Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala has apologised for her conduct at the Ruisrock music festival after a video showing her in an intoxicated state was widely circulated online.
In an interview with Iltalehti, Multala admitted she had been drunk during the event. “It’s clear that I was drunk in the video, and I apologise for that,” she said. “It was a private conversation late in the evening, and of course I didn’t know it was being recorded.”
The video was published by YouTuber Osmonaut, who is known for his rap-related content. It featured Multala alongside Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and members of the rap duo JVG. In the footage, artist Ville Galle is heard saying the ministers had been drinking all day and were “totally drunk.”
The ministers attended the Turku-based festival on 5 July as guests of the city. Before the festival, 23 members of Parliament and four government ministers took part in an official reception hosted by the mayor at the Radisson Blu Marina Palace hotel. The gathering included a buffet meal with wine and light alcoholic drinks.
The City of Turku has confirmed that Ruisrock provided the VIP tickets under a long-standing cooperation agreement and that the invitation did not result in direct additional expenses for the city.
Under Finnish transparency rules, MPs must declare gifts, tickets or hospitality worth over €400. Benefits below that threshold may be left undeclared unless voluntarily disclosed.
Prime Minister Orpo declared his Ruisrock ticket, which was valued at €864.84, in the government’s gift register. As of Tuesday morning, Multala had not submitted her declaration. All declarations must be filed by the end of August.
The incident has triggered discussion about the conduct of public officials at non-political events and raised questions about transparency and responsibility when accepting hospitality.
Multala has not commented further on the matter. No formal disciplinary actions have been announced.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
