Angela Merkel's visit to Helsinki was covered in all the papers, with the relaxed relationship between the two centre-right leaders dominating coverage. Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, who is in the middle of a tough election campaign, is apparently known as 'Alex' to Mrs Merkel. Evidence, says Helsingin Sanomat, of a relaxed, strong and genuinely warm relationship.
Ilta-Sanomat also picked up on the friendly nature of Merkel's visit to see 'Alex', evocatively describing it as like a kindly grandma come to visit a grandchild--perhaps not the impression Stubb was looking for ahead of next month's election.
Helsinki brewpubs 'springing up like mushrooms'
Kauppalehti has a story on the independent breweries in Finland that are now starting to open up their own pubs. According to the business daily this has now become a trend, with new brewpubs springing up 'like mushrooms in the rain' according to the manager of one Helsinki establishment. The Scottish chain Brewdog recently set up in the city, joining several others catering to beer aficionados in the capital.
The case study for today's article is Stadin Panimo, a Helsinki brewery that produces a range of beers for sale around Helsinki. In April the company is set to open a new bar in the Suvilahti district to fulfil owner Timo Konttinen's long-term dream. It will stock only Stadin Panimo products on tap, but will also offer around 120 imported bottles that aren't otherwise widely available in Finland. The new pub will have mostly recycled furniture in an effort to attract a hip young crowd from the districts east of the city centre--and thereby transform the company's prospects.
This is a business publication, after all, and an info box shows Stadin Panimo's current position. In 2013 the company made 4,500 euros profit on turnover of 279,100 euros, so there is apparently room for greater financial return.
Paatelainen under pressure
The sports pages remain dominated by the fallout from Finland's disastrous qualifying campaign for the 2014 European Championships, with Sunday's loss to Northern Ireland only the latest in a long line of disappointments. This qualifying competition had been regarded as a great opportunity for Finland to finally get to a major championship, but that goal now looks almost impossible to achieve.
Helsingin Sanomat asks two questions. "Who trusts Mixu now?" was journalist Tero Hakola's question in a column wondering just how Mixu (as he is universally known, even on British comedy series Phoenix Nights) can stand in front of his players and retain their confidence. Hakola however was left hoping that Paatelainen somehow finds another job and resigns, as it is unlikely that the FA can afford to sack him at this juncture.
Meanwhile Tapio Keskitalo lists five reasons the "Eagle Owls" lose: the team's formation, their playing style, the available players, the players chosen, and the opponents are the main reasons for the lack of success on the football field. Iltalehti asks 'who would replace Mixu'? (Mika Lehkosuo or Sami Hyypiä seem to be the only realistic candidates), while Ilta-Sanomat restricts itself to rating the players (Roman Eremenko has done well, Nikals Moisander not so much).
