By Enrique Tessieri
Perussuomalaiset (PS) MP James Hirvisaari went on the rampage today by calling journalists “bloodthirsty hyenas” as well as “arrogant and lying scum.” He equated persu, the shortened term for Perussuomalaiset which is now a forbidden word in parliament, to nekru, or the very offensive n-word.
Hirvisaari has learned a lot from his outbursts. I am certain that he now he knows how immigrants and Muslims must feel after reading his countless spiteful blog entries and opinions of these groups.
The big difference, however, is that those that Hirvisaari lashes out against like immigrants and refugees don’t have the means to defend themselves like one of Finland’s largest parties. What does Hirvisaari write about immigrants? Read what he says about reporters.
What is even more incredible about what Hirvisaari said was the reaction of Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner, leader of the PS parliamentary group. She told the media that the MP from Asikkala didn’t really mean what he said because he wasn’t probably taking his arguments seriously, reports Helsingin Sanomat.
The PS claims through Hirvisaari that the media and “elite” Finns are carrying out a systematic hate campaign against Timo Soini’s party.
With MPs like Hirvisaari, Jussi Halla-aho, Teuvo Hakkarainen and others, they can rest assured that the PS’ worst enemy is none other than itself.
So once again we get these outbursts followed by an explanation that the PS representative was only joking.
How many times can they do this and still expect anyone to take them seriously?
Of course journalists are blood thirsty hyenas, especially when it comes to politics. That, Mr Hirvisaari, is all par for the course.
You know, this outburst wouldn’t be so worrying, but it’s all part of a general trend when it comes to the far Right. And people wonder how totalitarian states emerge! It starts with a ‘shackling’ of the media, with the argument ‘they are out of control’, ‘they are undermining democracy’. Left to Hirvisaari, the answer would probably be stringent ‘controls’, i.e. loss of freedom of expression, or at least, negative expression in regard to political bodies. And he wouldn’t see that as bad at all, because, well, they are all bloodthirsty hyenas, as if there was nothing else at stake when it comes to freedom of the press!
PS’s defensive response is the tried and tested tactic of: ‘it’s them elites, again, isn’t it – they’re everywhere, and they all hate PS, don’t they!’ Actually, as everyone knows, journalists will go after any politician, especially if they ‘smell blood’, regardless of party affiliation. It sells papers – that is, drama, scandal, and political incompetence’. I mean, what have PS to fear?