Culture Minister Petri Honkonen emphasizes that the life work of artists also has national and state significance.
Stopping news from the entertainment artist loved by the whole nation Vesa-Matti Loirin the passing away shocked many Finns today, August 10. Loiri was 77 years old when he died.
Finland’s Minister of Science and Culture Petri Honkonen will not comment further on whether there will be a state-funded funeral for Loir so far.
– His passing is such a recent thing, so I would like to give his loved ones and relatives peace of mind at this point, Honkonen answers.
Honkonen adds that the relatives certainly haven’t had time to start funeral planning. The news of death reached the Finns at noon today.
– I can say that my personal opinion is that even an artist’s life work has national and state significance.
According to the website of the Government, state funerals are currently organized only for presidents. In exceptional cases, however, the state may decide to organize or finance funerals for other important persons.
Artists who received a state funeral in Finland include the writer Väinö Linna and the film director Edvin Laine. A state-financed funeral, for example, has been received by, for example, a hill jumper Matti Nykänen.