Der finnische Europaabgeordnete betreibt die Parteimedien „The Finns“ mit EU-Geldern

BRUSSELS. New MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen has a dual role in Brussels: he is a decision-maker, but he also runs his own The Finns Party media. He wants to push through “everything” about the EU. In other words, to become a sort of EU correspondent, as the big media houses have.  

The difference is that Tynkkynen does not do journalism, but political communication.  So far, Tynkkynen has made videos about the proposal to build a fence on Finland’s eastern border with EU money (“a mind-boggling labour victory”) and the election of Ursula von der Leyen as head of the EU Commission (“a terrible choice”). He has also shown off his office (“Not a good day when it’s big”) and made a video resembling a film trailer in which he says that Finland’s interests are more important to him than the EU’s.    

The double task requires time, money and manpower: Tynkkynen has four assistants in the EU Parliament, the maximum number of assistants in Brussels. In addition, he has assistants on the Finnish side. The aim is to eventually have seven assistants. This team is already the equivalent of a small newsroom. Not all assistants are primarily involved in communication, but Mr Tynkkynen says that everyone’s input also contributes to the production of videos. […] MEPs are allowed to spend up to €29 557 a month on the salaries and wages of their assistants.  

Edit: typo