There are a number of worrying signs that Finland’s democracy and social welfare state are under threat. The threat does not come from abroad but from inside Finland thanks to the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* and National Coalition Party (Kokoomus). Apart from disenfranchising migrants with strict laws that will make life harder for the country’s most vulnerable…
Migrant Tales Literary: Trilce Garcia and her family fly on Unnfair Airlines
Migrant Tales insight: Trilce Garcia is a Peruvian who has lived in Rauma for the past two years with her husband and children. On her way back to Helsinki at Vienna Airport, a man cut in line in front of them and that’s when the problem began. She complained to Finnair and the airline got…
The government’s plan to help tackle racism will disappoint and most likely be a dud
Monday’s A-studio talk about racism confirmed that Prime Minister Petteri Ospo’s plan to tackle racism and discrimination will most likely end up dead on arrival. One of the guests on the talk show, National Coalition Party (NCP) third vice president, Mari-Leena Talvitie, could not name one concrete action that the government would take to address the…
The response to Suddeutsche Zeitung’s Alex Rühle by Minister Wille Rydman’s office reveals contempt for the free media
The reply by Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Minister Wille Rydman aide to Suddeutsche Zeitung’s Alex Rühle is a clear example of how the minister and his party hold the free media in contempt. About thirty years ago as the Financial Times correspondent in Finland, a foreign ministry official suggested that I get in touch with him before…
Süddeutsche Zeitung’s Alex Rühle: “I was irritated by Wille Rydman’s repeated accusation of frivolous and false reporting”
An email published on Twitter has caused a stir since it implied that Minister Wille Rydman. I got in touch with Alex Rühle to confirm if what he wrote is true. Alex Rühe is the Nordic correspondent of Süddeutsche Zeitung. Below is the original email published Wednesday: “Dear all, The sentences quoted on Twitter come…
Media Monitoring Group of Finland [1]: A Perussuomalaiset minister threatens the foreign media
The Media Monitoring Group of Finland has received some disturbing news about how Perussuomalaiset (PS) Minister for Foreign Trade Wille Rydman allegedly sent hostile messages to Alex Rühle, the Nordic correspondent of the Munich-based daily Süddeutsche Zeitung. We offer our 100% support to Rühle and condemn forcibly Rydman, the PS, and the government for intimidating…
A “special kind of evil” to place pregnant women and children in harm’s way in Finland
The government of Prime Minister Orop plans to tighten the already vulnerable situation of undocumented migrants in Finland, according to a statement by the ministry of social affairs and health. “Removing the right of illegal residents [undocumented migrants] to non-urgent health and social services and social security…” In plain English, non-urgent health services include: There…
Finland’s refugee policy returns to the Cold War
I was surprised again to read a story in Yle about Russian army deserters crossing the Finnish border “without permission.” Without permission?! Understanding that the Russian deserters had crossed the border to ask for asylum in Finland, can we state that there is something “illegal” about this? A ridiculous claim by a Finnish tabloid. How…
Petteri Orpo’s government of Finland loathes migrants: Is it an overestimation or underestimation?
By now, after numerous scandals, Prime Minister Petteri Opro may be thinking that getting into bed with the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* was a huge mistake that will have far-reaching consequences for the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) and even end up costing him his job. If Orpo and PS Finance Minister Riikka Purra had a crystal ball…
Ahti Tolvanen: Hallitukselle RE: “Nollatoleranssi syrjinnälle ja rasismille”
Koska eduskunnalta pyydetään hallituksella luottamusta, vaikka tämä samalla sijoittaisi vaikutusvaltaiseen asemaan rasismia tai valkoisen rodun ylivaltaa vuosia sanoilla ja teoillaan eri tavoin edistäneitä henkilöitä kuten Purra, Rantanen ja Rydman, on pyyntö harvinaisen ongelmallinen.Eduskuntaa pyydetään samalla hyväksymään ohjelmaehdotuksen, jonka tavoitteena on pääministeri Orpon ilmoittama ”nollatoleranssi syrjinnälle ja rasismille.” Orpon hallitukseen kohdistuu ennennäkemätön haaste, selvästi vaatien hyvin…