Perussuomalaiset (PS) chairman Timo Soini was interviewed on YLE Saturday morning. Commenting on a recent opinion poll commissioned by YLE, Soini claimed that the good showing of the PS and Center Party proved that Finns are by nature conservatives.
The YLE poll, which was published Friday, showed big gains by the opposition Center Party (23.8%) and the PS (19.3%). The ruling National Coalition Party’s popularity slipped to 18.3% and the Social Democratic Party to 15%.
Read full story (in Finnish) here.
It’s nothing surprising that a politician like Soini, who will do anything to snatch as much power as he can in order to form part of the next government after the 2015 parliamentary elections, sees Finns as “conservatives.”
What does being a conservative mean in Finland in 2013? In general terms, it suggests having conservative values when it comes to marriage, work ethic and suspicion of cultural diversity.
Are Finns conservatives by nature as Soini claims? I have my serious doubts.
The reason why the PS is so popular, at least in the polls, is due to the lack of diversity and consensus-driven politics during the cold war era.
The rise of an anti-EU, anti-immigration and especially anti-Islam party like the PS in the 2011 elections would have never happened if Finland’s population would have been more culturally diverse.
When Soini speaks of Finns being “conservatives” by nature, he means that they are potential PS voters and in line with the party’s nationalistic name, the Finns Party, or the Perussuomalaiset as we call the party on Migrant Tales.
Our best insurance against populism and ideologies that have little respect for human rights is cultural and political diversity. More diversity coupled with social equality will help conserve our Nordic democratic way of life rather than undermine it.
Being too alike ideologically, culturally and ethnically is hazardous to our society.
If Soini is politician then i am a musician.
If conservative is abuse and attack with law and in the name of law, then conservative means dictatorship and dictatorship means no freedom and no freedom does not mean conservative.
Conservatives by nature?
He made an advertisement for Finns.
Secondly
What kind of conservatives, he should explain more
Like
What benefit this kind of conservatives had for me a black hair foreigner woman who stands for her rights or better i say what kind of INJUSTICE????
There is a list, sigh
-“The reason why the PS is so popular, at least in the polls, is due to the lack of diversity and consensus-driven politics during the cold war era.”
This is absolute nonsense. If that was the case then why in the past when Finland had a much lower immigrant population and minuscule cultural diversity did The Finns Party or even the Finnish Rural Party before it never become as popular or have as many MPs? Only once in 1970 did the party have have more than 10% of votes in a parliamentary election (10.5%) so nearly half at its highest to it’s current success now.
I suggest before you start making bold claims have some historical evidence or statistical analysis to back up it up.
If you truly want the Finns party to slump and be a non-entity in Finnish politics then immigration and to a certain extent the EU must not be a concern to the public. If the immigrant population keeps rising rapidly and the EU continuing to falter economically then expect the Finns party to be a big 4 party for a long time and maybe even become the biggest party in future.
–If that was the case then why in the past when Finland had a much lower immigrant population and minuscule cultural diversity did The Finns Party or even the Finnish Rural Party before it never become as popular or have as many MPs?
The difference is the following: The PS is the only modern party in Finland that has tapped into anti-immigration sentiment to gain support. It worked in April 2011. But there is a problem: immigration is a non-issue for Finland. How many immigrants are there? Few. There are more important issues like the economy, jobs, transparency etc, but immigration (growing cultural diversity to be specific) continues to raise concern.
The lack of diversity permitted the media and political parties to patronize with the PS before the April 2011 elections. Many saw this as a dangerous sign. At least we did on Migrant Tales. Finland is now paying a high price for being to complacent and accepting racism and intolerance as “normal.”
If you take away diversity and become hostile to people who are different to you, you scare away foreign investment, jobs and impoverish your country.
Populism, far right ideology and fascism have a good chance of growing in places where there is little diversity, or just enough of it to victimize it like we saw in Nazi Germany after 1933.
With respect to cold war consensus politics, here’s the point: It created a system that has enabled good things but bad side effects like corruption and lack of transparency. Diversity, checks and balances are crucial to maintaining a healthy democracy.
-“There are more important issues like the economy, jobs, transparency etc, but immigration (growing cultural diversity to be specific) continues to raise concern.”
Don’t you ask yourself why it continues to be an issue, not just in Finland but across Western Europe or are you so narrow minded that you refuse to hear other views and their reasoning.
-“If you take away diversity and become hostile to people who are different to you, you scare away foreign investment, jobs and impoverish your country.”
Again false. Foreign investment isn’t concerned by domestic politics as long as their investment is safe (which it is in Finland). Business follows the money. Would you call Russia, the Middle East or China bastions of human rights and democracy? Of course not but they continue to gain foreign investment.
-“Populism, far right ideology and fascism have a good chance of growing in places where there is little diversity, or just enough of it to victimize it like we saw in Nazi Germany after 1933.”
Would you use this argument to Third world countries that have minimum immigration and diversity or only Western countries have to accept the rest of the world at all costs even to the detriment to the host country?
-“With respect to cold war consensus politics, here’s the point: It created a system that has enabled good things but bad side effects like corruption and lack of transparency. Diversity, checks and balances are crucial to maintaining a healthy democracy.”
Yup, that’s why according to Transparency International Finland (along with New Zealand) are ranked the least corrupt nations in the world. The Democracy Index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit rates Finland, the other Nordic countries, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as the most democratic. The experts have shown your assumptions to be incorrect.
–Don’t you ask yourself why it continues to be an issue, not just in Finland but across Western Europe or are you so narrow minded that you refuse to hear other views and their reasoning.
Explain why? The only answer I can see is that you, like others, don’t like cultural diversity. I enjoy and don’t feel like a fish out of water.
Why would I invest in a country that hates and doesn’t get it when it comes to diversity? Why will my managers and employees relocate to a country that treats immigrants badly? Being international, global and accepting cultural diversity is a dynamic way of getting out of a small box, which is your country and your prejudices.
–Would you use this argument to Third world countries that have minimum immigration and diversity or only Western countries have to accept the rest of the world at all costs even to the detriment to the host country?
People move and that’s a fact. They move to countries where there is opportunities. When a country gives them opportunities to grow and IS inclusive, things work out much better than those that permit immigrants but stunt their opportunities.
–The experts have shown your assumptions to be incorrect.
Yep, you’re right. I wonder where the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany and others attribute an important part of their economic growth.Without immigrants, Sweden would be in trouble these days.
Please don’t play down or belittle immigrants and refugees. They are brave people who deserve more respect from people like yourself.
No matter how much you kick and bitch, people will continue to be on the move, people will intermarry and people be open to new ideas. We have built roads, and travelled on those roads, because we don’t believe in isolation. That would be putting a noose around our collective necks.
Klay_immigrant or Finn_immigrant
Immigrant or anti/immigrant
Now what you mean about PS?
Say clearly, open your mouth and show yourself more and more.
Is there something more than love between you and PS???
-”The reason why the PS is so popular, at least in the polls, is due to the lack of diversity and consensus-driven politics during the cold war era.”
Klay,
The reason, u want know that?
PS is my enemy and so my enemies like them, vote them, support them, and are with them.
…
Finns party to be a big 4 party for a long time and maybe even become the biggest party in future.
So are u waiting for such a day?
But you dont be worry about future, i mean don’t make advertisement for PSers because
They and you wont see such a day in Finland, this is only a salty black dream and absolute nonsense.
Finland wont see such a day, Finland has no luck because crime has no luck.
–Klay, The reason, u want know that? PS is my enemy and so my enemies like them, vote them, support them, and are with them.
Klay, why would I support a party like the PS who wants to deny my rights in MY country? Why should I support a party like the PS that considers who I am an illness?
Get real.
I didn’t write that Enrique, Dana did.
I understand what Dana wrote. I’m just answering her question.