Maria Guzenina’s heavy words about the participation of politicians in reality TV programs – Explains her departure to Amazing Race Finland

SDP MEP Maria Guzenina56, competes Amazing Race Finland – program his friends Vilma Vähämaan31, with. In the program based on the American series The Amazing Race, couples compete around the world.

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about whether a politician can participate in reality TV shows. The discussion about the participation of MPs in reality shows in particular arose this fall, when an SDP MP Miapetra Kumpula-Natri53, attended after the session began A great adventure – program filming in Lapland. Kumpula-Natri was away from parliamentary work for a couple of weeks.

Also the Minister of Sports, Sports and Youth Mika Poutalan42, (kd) participation in what is currently being performed Special forces– program has sparked discussion.

Guzenina commented on the topic to Iltalehte, stating that it is important that a politician’s participation in reality TV shows does not interfere with work.

– I had a session break in the European Parliament when the filming of this program started. It helped me to make my own decision, he explained at the Amazing Race Finland press conference at the Helsingin Korjaamo.

In Guzenina’s opinion, a politician is always responsible for why he goes to a program. Guzenina herself decided to participate in a reality TV show to be an example that life does not end at fifty.

In addition, Guzenina wanted to give visibility to child protection youth. Vähämaa has once been a client of child protection and lived in a youth home.

– The discussions we have during the competition are sometimes very serious and deep. We wanted to go through them openly in front of the cameras and took off all our masks to show that whatever your background is, it doesn’t define you, Guzenina emphasizes.

Guzenina’s message stems from the fact that Vähämaa herself has had to face comments due to her background in child protection, for example in job interview situations. Vähämaa had mentioned his background in child protection in his resume, as his company Osallisuuden aika, which specializes in the development of child protection, had received a democracy award in 2012.

– In a job interview, they might say: “So you have a child protection client? Maybe it’s not worth putting that on your CV.” Even though it was marked on it through the award and work, Vähämaa says.

– By participating in this competition, Vilma makes visible a young person who is perhaps ashamed of his background or has to answer the question in a job interview: “Are you like that?” Those stigmas are still terribly tight. I think that a person who has lived a varied life and has had to wrestle through difficulties is actually stronger if he finds strength in his own past, Guzenina adds.

– The fact that we are a couple in this Amazing Race in Finland and that we survive these tasks together is hopefully an example of how you can find people around you. Dare to accept help when someone offers it and trust that things will work out, he emphasizes.

Prime minister Petteri Orpo55, (kok) took a position on Yle’s Prime Minister’s interview session on Sunday on whether ministers from him can participate in reality TV programs.

– If there is a minister, then I don’t see any possibility of participating in reality TV programs. They take quite a lot of time, Orpo said.

As for MPs, Orpo considered that participation during the session break could be possible at their own discretion.

– In my opinion, MPs can participate at their own discretion during non-session holidays. When the Session is on, the sessions and committee work are what MPs need to be involved in, the Prime Minister said.

The new season of the Amazing Race Suomi program starts on Nelose and Ruudu on Saturday, November 15. See all program information and broadcast times on Telku.