Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is a weak leader and part of Finland’s racism problem.
National Coalition Party (NCP) Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government, which has been christened as the Chamber of Horrors by Munich-based daily, Süddeutsche Zeitun, is a disappointing example of how you should not confront racism in this country. Many are rightfully worried about how racism, through the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party and NCP, is threatening our democracy.
A headline for a Helsingin Sanomat story. “Orpo leads with his eyes closed,” explains ideally what is wrong with the prime minister’s leadership and the government.
Another ludicrous claim s the so-called “good” government program praised by Orpo and others in the government, even if it disenfranchises and discriminates against migrants and minorities.
The government has lost credibility due to the numerous scandals dealing with racism and links to the far right. Without credibility, it is clear that the only way to regain it is by letting go of the PS and forming a new government. If nothing changes, all efforts by Orpo to restore confidence will look like wild goose chases.
Another problem is the constant denial of racism and the PS. A recent example was when Orpo was asked on A-studio if he thought a 2019 description by PS Finance Minister Riikka Purra of a Muslim wearing “a black sack” was acceptable.
A good example of how an Islamophobic party like the PS covers its hatred for Muslims. In the top picture, the PS claims that Muslim women are oppressed because they wear certain Muslim attire. In the second cartoon below, the PS gives its real opinion: Why don’t you go back to where you came from? That dress has no place in Finland.”
Orpo responded that it was unacceptable.
After that statement, he came out and said it was ok since Purra was concerned about women’s rights.
The blog posting by Purra hasn’t been taken down and can be accessed.
What were Purra and Orpo on when they thought Vilhelm Junnila, a PS MP who “joked” for years about Hitler and the Holocaust, would make a reputable minister? Is their denial of racism and the threat of the far right so deeply ingrained that Junnila’s background did not matter. He’d become minister without problems.
The racism and intransigence of the PS are some of the reasons why the Swedish People’s Party is threatening to leave the government. The tweet below by Purra explains why.
Purra doubles down and ignites another government crisis with the SPP threatening to leave the government. Tweets Purra: : “Predictably, the focus is now on direct and straightforward speech, criticism of immigration, and political action. Even “nasty” comments about how gender equality is oppressed are criticized.
As surely as that continues, the PS will continue to be faithful to the mandate given to us [by voters].”
Prime Minister Orpo, who wants us to believe that the government is committed to social equality and anti-racism (the term is not even mentioned in the government program), announced Monday that a a committee will be formed to give to parliament a statement of the government’s commitment to nondiscrimination, according to Tampere-based Aamulehti.
Some members of that committee are already a problem: PS’ Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo, who said that racism was a matter of interpretation, and Päivi Nerg, of the Christian Democratic Party, who did everything possible to make the lives of asylum seekers who arrived in Finland in 2015 difficult.
Another empty statement?
Another wild goose chase to not do anything.
