Alexander Stubb jokes about food at the end of Spanish king’s visit

The Finnish president thanked Felipe VI for the two-day visit and referred to both good and bad food served during the trip.

At the end of the state visit, Alexander Stubb thanked the king of Spain for the two days they had spent together, mentioning their conversations, laughter and serious discussions. “We value good food, bad food and everything in between,” he said. His remarks were reported by Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

The newspaper said that no one had complained about the meals during the visit. Its journalists described the line as a joke whose meaning was clear to Stubb and the Spanish monarch. Finland’s presidential office said Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were in the country on October 6 and 7.

In February 2026, Stubb joked about Finland’s influence on the world stage during a discussion with World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. When she called Finland a middle power, the president replied that he was sitting there with all of his 190 centimeters.