THE STORY WAS UPDATED Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Minister of Economic Affairs VIlhelm Junnila was in office for just 11 days, making him one of the shortest-serving ministers in Finnish history. Junnila’s downfall is attributable to himself and his long trail of neo-Nazi sympathies and “jokes.” The fact that the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) went to bed…
Month: June 2023
Petteri Orpo’s big gamble and Finland’s shift to the radical right
What a show we saw in parliament Wednesday when radical-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Minister of Economic Affairs Vilhelm Junnila survived a no-confidence vote! The first visible cracks in National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government became evident. One of the questions that some may be asking is why does Kokoomus want to do business…
A Finnish six-point guide on how to insult Holocaust victims, give support to neo-Nazis, the far-right, and racists and become a minister
We have read about the numerous anti-Semitic, racist, neo-Nazi, and far-right comments that Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Minister of Economic Affairs Vilhelm Junnila has made throughout the years. He now regrets these hateful comments and claims that they were all done humorously. UPDATE: Finland’s parliament gave a 95-86 vote of confidence to the government program and Minister…
Neo-Nazi and racist sympathies will help you go far in Finnish politics
Finland’s most right-wing government since the 1930s was hit by controversy on its first day Tuesday due to its links with neo-Nazis, the far-right, and unapologetic racist blog posts. One of the epicenters of the scandal is Minister of Economic Affairs Vilhelm Junnila, whose neo-Nazi and white supremacist sympathies are readily seen through a trail…
The problematic far right, racism, misogyny, homophobia and rape delusions of the new Finnish government
The government fuels two matters: loss of credibility and polarization of society. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government, considered the most right wing since the 1930s, faced a storm of controversy on its first day not because of its austerity program, which will hit the most vulnerable sectors of society, but because of its embarrassing links…
Finland’s new Interior Minister Mari Rantanen “comes out” with her racism and far-right views
Finland’s new interior minister, Mari Rantanen of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party, wrote on her webpage before the April general election: “We mustn’t be so naive [naive in Finnish means being ‘blue-eyed’] that soon we won’t be blue-eyed.” The posting can no longer be found on her webpage. In a recent interview with Iltalehti, Rantanen, who…
Liar, liar PS pants on fire!
Riikka Purra is the chairperson of the radical right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party, which has made its political career by bullying minorities like Muslims. Since most of their xenophobic arguments are based on lies and smears, it should not surprise anyone that they’d break their election promises rapidly. One of the biggest promises that the PS…
Finland’s new immigration policy is bound to fail because it lacks paths to inclusion
An immigration policy founded on racism and suspicion is bound to fail. The tightening of the new government’s immigration policy, which has instilled fear among non-EU migrants, asylum seekers, and disappointment from the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) for hindering to facilitation foreign labor from outside the EU, is risky for a number of reasons….
Media Monitoring Group of Finland*: Yahya Rouissi: The Finnish Media and me
As a Tunisian who has spent the last three years in Finland, I often find myself reflecting on recent events that have influenced my life. The revolution in Tunisia is known for having been “from the people, [but] appropriated by the others.” This phrase resonates with me deeply, as I can relate to the highs and…
The new government’s immigration program can be best described in two words: disenfranchisement and suspicion
The new right-wing government of National Coalition Party (NCP) Prime Minister-designate, Petteri Orpo published its government program Saturday. With respect to migrant policy, it reinforces what many have feared: deep-rooted suspicion of migrants. The new government, which is considered to be the most right-wing since the 1930s and the most anti-immigration in a long time,…