Finland’s defense minister on Thursday welcomed his decision to take a two-month paternity leave amid Finland’s NATO accession process, AFP reported, Agerpres reported.

“We are proud to support Antti Kaikkonen’s decision,” said Finance Minister and Chairman of the Center Party Annika Saarikko, a member of the ruling coalition in Helsinki.

Antti Kaikkonen announced on Tuesday his decision to take time off from January 6 to February to take care of his second child, born in July.

“The children are still small, I want to remember them not in pictures,” he wrote on Twitter.

Finland offers 54 days of leave to new parents

As in other Scandinavian countries, in Finland it has become commonplace for parental leave for two to three months after the birth of a child.

The country provides 54 days of leave to new parents. Almost 80% go on vacation, but only a part.

This option remains rare for political leaders, and Kaikonen is one of the few men in the political firmament to take paternity leave in Finland.

Former Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen was a pioneer when he took several days of paternity leave twice while he was head of government.

“The freedom to take or decide on family leave belongs to everyone,” said Annika Saarikko.

Deputy from the Center party Mikko Savola will temporarily perform duties in the Ministry of Defense.

Finland and Sweden abandoned decades of military non-alignment following neighboring Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by announcing their candidacy for NATO in May.

Of the thirty members of the Western military alliance, only Hungary and Turkey have not yet ratified their membership, which requires unanimous consent.

The main issue is with Ankara, which is asking the authorities in Stockholm and Helsinki to toughen their stance on Kurdish groups that Turkey considers “terrorist”.