Private Hearts

This week our prime minister's former partner was, once again, in media. This time she published the cover of her up-coming book, published later this month. The book is titled, interestingly, Prime Minister's Bride.

If you ask me, this whole thing has got way out of hand! This woman dated our prime minister for 9 months and because it ended to a clearly painful break-up (he send her a text message about it, she spoke to many, many journalists) she is now publishing a book in which she will print every single text message, email and diary entry she has from their entire relationship. Great.

I'm sure that there are plenty of people, who find this whole thing amusing. Because elections are in March, prime minister's political opponents must be pleased as well. Some of my fellow Finns cannot get enough of rumors, so they'll be excited to read that book. And then... then there are the rest, who are very angry, upset and outraged at this single mom. (I wonder, did she think of her children, never mind the prime minister's, when she wrote that book? I bet not.)

As a media student I am interested to see how this saga ends. Will the prime minister's popularity go down? Will he get lots of sympathy votes? (I think he will.) Will this book become a success or just a piece of published revenge? Media is already refering it as a "kiss and tell"- book, which, probably, will not be far from the truth, according to the information bits about the content.

Now, I met my boyfriend the same way these two did, online. I was looking for a friend, they were up for something more. They dated 9 months, my relationship has lasted already nearly 14. She is soon a published author, I love to write myself. BUT I would never ever publish anything my wonderful man has sent to me without his permission. I have saved all the emails he has sent and some of his texts, but it would never occur to me to show them to anyone else. They are our private property. Some things should be left private.

But then again, who am I to talk, I'm not dating a famous person (Thank God!). Apparently, that changes the rules, although I do recall hearing this lady say that she did not date the prime minister, but the man he is outside his job. Whatever.

I cannot help but wonder, if the prime minister had told his ex in person that "sorry, this is not working" and then explained her kindly why, would the results have been the same? Perhaps. According to her, they did talk after the break up text - at a parking lot. That does not sound that nice, now does it? Sure, prime minister was a busy man then, Finland was in charge in EU that minute, but let's forget that fact. As a woman I feel for her. Nobody should be dumped via a text, but in person. And no important discussions should take place at a parking lot but inside four walls at someone's home, but still... Enough is enough.

Now, I recall watching a program called Pressiklubi (The Press Club), in which this lady told the host that her time in media was running out and that it would be her last interview, something like that. Yet, I'm pretty much convinced that she already was writing, if not even finished, her book. Why the secrecy and lies? It is very interesting to me that her book will be published so close to the election and that makes one wonder that what's behind all of it. And, of course, if the publisher has sympathies towards prime minister's political opponents, everything is possible.

One thing is sure: I don't have to ever buy nor borrow Prime Minister's Bride. I'm sure that one of our tabloids will gladly pick it up and publish all the juiciest details on its front page.