The misfortunes of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* have been a source of concern from some and happiness for others. After the 2011 general election, when the PS won 39 seats versus five previously, some of us have had to put up with the party’s racism and Finland’s inability and normalization of anti-immigration populism.
The dire situation of the PS was highlighted again in Helsingin Sanomat’s opinion poll, which showed the party tied with the Left Alliance with 10% and just a heartbeat from entering the single-digit league.
In the 2007 general election, the PS received 4.05% of the votes granting it five MPs compared with three (1.57%) in 2003.
Source: Helsingin Sanomat
Some of the biggest excuses justifying and normalizing the PS’s entry into the political “big leagues” after 2011 are:
- The party will implode like the Rural Party did in the 1970s;
- Timo Soini is not a racist;
- The PS is not an anti-Muslim party but one against the EU;
- Jussi Halla-aho is the “bad” PS and Soini the “good” one;
There are many other excuses to justify the PS ideology and toxic politics.
Do you believe that the PS rating will dip into the single-digit leagues soon? Do you believe that the party’s situation will lead to early elections in the fall?
