It is a bit disingenuous that after ten years of the historic Perussuomaiset (PS)* victory in the 2011 election, when the party saw the number of MPs soared to 39 from five previously, some of us still appear startled about the racism of the radical right party and how they aim to destroy the credibility of the Finnish media and our democratic institution. There is an answer as to why: The challenge of seeing the dark side of ourselves.
After the hostile attacks against the Finnish media at the PS congress over the weekend and editorials and analysis by Finland’s biggest daily, Helsingin Sanomat, it appears that everyone is still surprised.
Just for the record, I never underestimated the profound impact and threat of the PS to our democratic institutions. The quote by Time Magazine in 2011 expressed my concern in the face of how too many played down the election result. Source Time Magazine.
But it would be unfair to place all the blame on the PS. Today, traditional parties like the conservative National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) have become ideologically closer to the PS. Even a traditional liberal party like the Swedish People’s Party, agreed to form part of a coalition government with the PS.
The inability to perceive the danger was best shown by Kokoomus’ Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen’s interview in the Financial TImes.
“Valtonen said all European countries had to adapt to nationalist parties such as the Finns [PS], adding that neighboring Sweden’s approach of excluding such groups from national politics ‘didn’t help’ matters,” she continued. “The ability to ‘moderate radicalism in government’ was the approach required.”
Really, Valtonen?! You expect to moderate the PS but fail to see how they have radicalized your party. I wish you luck in your endeavor but I suspect your efforts are doomed to fail.
If there is a surprise element to the racism scandals and the hostility of the PS towards our institutions, it’s how the media, politicians, and other analysts have played down the threat. The PS has come a long way from 2011: Today it is in the seat of power and can weaken our institutions to gain more power thanks to our lack of vigilance.
With Prime Minister Petteri Orpo defending the PS and giving it the benefit of the doubt, and the power seized by the party after the last election, the question is if we are still in denial or have awoken to the threat.
Taking our democracy for advantage is a perilous mistake.
