There is no reason to give an artist a state funeral Vesa-Matti Loiricomment Timo Lankinenundersecretary of state in the State Council’s office for MTV.
Iconic actor and musician Loiri died at the age of 77 last week.
"Loir had a remarkable career as an artist. However, in my opinion, the criteria for awarding state funerals that are particularly significant nationally are not met, so the government has not been presented with conditions that would justify the organization of state funerals." Lankinen told MTV.
The decision is made by the government. According to Lankinen, the government honors Loir in other ways and by being present at the funeral.
prime minister Sanna Marin (SDP) said on Wednesday that the government will discuss a possible state funeral for the artist. According to Marin, the Loir family’s wishes must be heard.
Minister of Science and Culture Petri Honkonen (Cen) had proposed a state funeral for Vesa-Matti Loir on Tuesday.
"Vesa-Matti Loiri is one of the greatest artists of Finland’s independence, who has moved countless Finns over the generations. A state funeral would be Finland’s common tribute and thanks for an extraordinary life’s work in shaping our culture," Honkonen stated in the press release.
In Finland, a state funeral was last organized for a person in the cultural sector in 1992, when the author Väinö Linna died. The last state funeral of the former president of Finland Mauno Koivisto in 2017.
Source: The Nordic Page