Finland is gearing up for municipal elections on April 9, 2017.
If you are a non-white Finn and a minority, finding that right party and political fit can be quite a difficult task. Parties like the Left Alliance, Greens and Swedish People’s Party are pretty favorable to cultural diversity while others like the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* are the most hostile to it.
Even if migrants can vote in municipal elections, well under 20% do so. Source: Helsingin Sanomat.
All the rest, like the Social Democrats, Center Party, National Coalition Party and the Christian Democrats, are a big question mark. Their track record on challenging discrimination, bigotry, institutional racism and promoting cultural diversity isn’t convincing at all.
As long as non-white Finns in this country have to choose between “the least racist party” if they vote or get involved in municipal politics, shows the gravity of the situation and how little political power we still have.
Yes, the municipal elections are around the corner and political parties like the PS and others are eager to attack migrants, asylum seekers, and minorities with hostile words.
As long as people are obliged to choose from the least racist party in Finland the attacks and hostility will continue.
* The Finnish name for the Finns Party is the Perussuomalaiset (PS). The English names of the party adopted by the PS, like True Finns or Finns Party, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and xenophobia. We, therefore, prefer to use the Finnish name of the party on our postings. The direct translation of “Perussuomalaiset” is “basic” or “fundamental Finn.”