Soini leaves hospital, still on sick leave

Foreign Minister Timo Soini has been discharged from hospital, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

The minister was admitted to hospital on October 6 for treatment of a severe erysipelas skin infection in his foot.

Soini, however, will continue to be on sick leave, which is likely to long until October 30, the press release added.

The minister had to cancel his visit to Iceland scheduled from October 7 due to the sudden illness.

Earlier, on September 21, Soini survived a no-confidence motion in parliament. The motion was put forward by four opposition parties accusing Soini of publicly expressing his anti-abortion attitude blurring the international image of Finland.

Soini currently represents the populist SininenTulevaisuus (Blue Reform) party, a break-away fraction of the populist Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party).