Finland’s parliamentary election is only 16 days away on April 2, and the question is if the radical-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party will capitalize on its Islamophobic campaign message.
The assertion that the PS uses a migrant crime topic to attract voters before an election isn’t far-fetched.
One of the most interesting discoveries of our first report published Friday is the link between the Swedish parliamentary election of September and the rise of news stories about “street gangs” in Finland.
As we know, gang violence in Sweden is a serious social problem and is unique in Europe. Thanks to this problem, the Sweden Democrats, a party with neo-Nazi roots, and the conservative Moderate
Party successfully used the issue in their campaigns to win the election.
Historically, the PS had lured voters through news stories involving migrants and asylum seekers committing crimes in the n 2011, 2015, and 2019 parliamentary elections. One of the many big “migrant scandals” the PS wants to exploit for the April election is the threat of “youth gangs.”
Since it’s easy to understand the PS’ campaign strategy, the big question is if they will succeed in attracting voters in the upcoming election.
While the election result will reveal itself after 8 pm on April 2, the PS’ campaign suffered several setbacks. One of the biggest is that parties like the Social Democrats, Greens, Left Alliance, and Swedish People’s Party have stated that they will not form part of a future government with the PS.
Even so, the worst enemy of the PS is itself and its While the election result will reveal itself after 8 pm on April 2, the PS’ campaign suffered several setbacks. One of the biggest is that parties like the Social Democrats, Greens, Left Alliance, and Swedish People’s Party have stated that they will not form part of a future government with the PS.
The worst enemy of the PS is itself and its obstinate and racist stands about migrants and minorities. Finland needs foreign labor, but the party is the only one that opposes such plans.
In many respects, the PS has pushed itself into a corner. If it tones down its xenophobic rhetoric, it will lose voters.
April 2 will be a historic day where Finns will choose between an open and closed society suffering from social ills like racism.
