According to Helsingin Sanomat, Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja's staff have asked Twitter to cancel a fake account using his name.
His office says that it noticed the phony profile a few days ago. Only two tweets have been sent from the account, both last Friday -- one saying “Welcome! I join Twitter now.”
Tuomioja’s office says he does not have a Twitter account – or any plans to set one up. He does have a Facebook account and actively publishes a personal blog.
The pseudo-account has already attracted nearly 600 followers.
Katainen & Stubb active, Donner not so
Two weeks ago, former Finnish prime minister and current European Commissioner Jyrki Katainen aroused attention with his first tweets, including one that read “It is really a my account. Media has already douple checked it:)” [sic]. His successor, Alexander Stubb, has drawn some criticism for his active use of Twitter.
Last year veteran politician, author and filmmaker Jörn Donner asked police to investigate a fake Twitter account set up in his name, which attracted some 2,000 followers.
Tuomioja and Donner are two of the most senior members of the Finnish Parliament, having been first elected to the body in 1970 and 1987 respectively.