Even if the government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo claims no racism or exclusion of migrants in Finland, the opposite is true. Finland has become an unfriendly , even hostile, country for migrants.
If there is one law that shows such disdain it is the new citizenship test that will come into force in the beginning of 2027.
In a council of state statement, anti-immigration Perussuomaliset (PS)* Interior Minister Mari Rantanen argues in favor of tightening migration laws and the citizenship test.
The government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo turns a blind eye towards the racist policies and politics of the PS. Exaggerating youth crime, media like MTV see the tightening of integrtion laws in a violent light. Migrant Tales.
“We have already tightened the conditions for Finnish citizenship, including the required length of residence, income and integrity,” she said. “By introducing a citizenship test, we will further strengthen the principle that acquiring citizenship calls for successful integration into Finnish society and an understanding of its values.”
While it is important that new citizens understand their rights and how society’s institutions work, Rantanen’s citizenship shows suspicion, whitewashing and hypocrisy. Even if it points out that it is important to know gender and non-discrimination facts, it does nothing to expose the lies of the government on this front.
One clear case exposing hypocrisy is for the candidate to be knowledgeable of basic civil rights and human rights, which Rantanen and the government have watered down. Even if exam tests the candidates knowledge of gender and sexual minority rights, among others, it does not confront the racism in Finnish society towards minorities like Muslims spread by Rantanen’s party.
One of the most eceptionalist parts of the proposed test, in my opinion, is on custom and values.
Even if the candidate must know what are white Finnish customs and values are, there is nothing about how Finland is becoming ever-diverse. Does Rantanen falsely believe that people will eventually throw away their cultural habits and become white?
Does the test say anything about the government defending minority rights like Ramadan?
The new citizenship test and the tightening of citizenship law will further erode Finland’s and the present Finnish government’s credibility.
How can we believe in a government that is discriminating and oppressing minority rights now with citizenship tests that are a reflection of its racism and prejudice?
