Finland Archives - Page 30 of 359

Vilhelm Junnila’s resignation reveals how the radical-right PS continues to be a liability to Orpo’s government

Posted on June 30, 2023July 1, 2023 by Migrant Tales

THE STORY WAS UPDATED

Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Minister of Economic Affairs VIlhelm Junnila was in office for just 11 days, making him one of the shortest-serving ministers in Finnish history. Junnila’s downfall is attributable to himself and his long trail of neo-Nazi sympathies and “jokes.”

The fact that the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) went to bed with a radical-right party like the PS shows poor judgment. It also reveals Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s lack of leadership and his blind spot to the far right.

Even if opposition politics and activists may contribute to the eventual downfall of Orpo’s government in the months ahead, its biggest headache is itself as Junnila demonstrated.

One of these loose canons is Interior Minister Mari Rantanen, who continues to spread conspiracy theories like the great replacement. The theory is a deadly far-right ideology even warned by Supo, the Finnish Security Service.

Before the April general election, she wrote: “We mustn’t be so naive [naive in Finnish means being ‘blue-eyed’] that soon we won’t be blue-eyed.”

A nurse with police training and very xenophobic opinions, she continued to defend her claim on how Europe is changing ethnically before our eyes. Despite her claim, Rantanen has not shown us any statistical information backing her great replacement theory in Sweden, never mind Finland.

Rantanen tweets: 1/2 Regarding today’s news: I don’t believe in conspiracy theories (sic).
The statistical pressure placed on Europe’s population and the resulting demographic change is a fact. The consequences of immigration must also be discussed in this context without stigmatization.

2/2 Many would like to see a strong acceleration of [migrants to the country]. In the run-up to the [April] election, there were serious proposals to admit 1.4 million immigrants to Finland. The PS took a firm line and received a strong mandate from the Finns. In politics, it must be possible to raise objections for or against.

Petteri Orpo’s big gamble and Finland’s shift to the radical right

Posted on June 29, 2023June 29, 2023 by Migrant Tales

What a show we saw in parliament Wednesday when radical-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Minister of Economic Affairs Vilhelm Junnila survived a no-confidence vote! The first visible cracks in National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government became evident.

One of the questions that some may be asking is why does Kokoomus want to do business with a party that it turned down in 2017. The PS had imploded into two factions after the party elected Jussi Halla-aho as its new leader.

Remember what Orpo said back then?

Source: Helsingin Sanomat

“Halla-aho’s Perussuomalaiset… their base values are so drastically different from ours,” he said. “They go against our most sacred values, human dignity, human rights, the concept of humanity, openness, and internationalism.”

Helsingin Sanomat asked Orpo five years after why the party had now qualms about sharing power in government with the PS. “The current Perussuomalaiset party, as it has evolved under Halla-aho and [Riikka] Purra, is such that I see no reason why we cannot negotiate a government program [with them],” he was quoted as saying.

Orpo’s assurances do nothing more than fuel mistrust because they are based on lies like what he said about Junnila. “Of course we do not accept any type of extremism, Nazism, Stalinism, or other ideologies that are dangerous to society or people,” he said in Helsingin Sanomat. “This is quite obvious. Everyone in Finland must be able to live a good life in safety.”

I wonder what minorities, migrants and asylum seekers think about Orpo’s statement.

Neo-Nazi and racist sympathies will help you go far in Finnish politics

Posted on June 26, 2023June 27, 2023 by Migrant Tales

Finland’s most right-wing government since the 1930s was hit by controversy on its first day Tuesday due to its links with neo-Nazis, the far-right, and unapologetic racist blog posts.

One of the epicenters of the scandal is Minister of Economic Affairs Vilhelm Junnila, whose neo-Nazi and white supremacist sympathies are readily seen through a trail of evidence.

Apart from taking part in a rally organized by far-right groups, Junnila congratulated in 2019 a Peerussuomalaiset (PS)* candidate for receiving the 88 election number. “First of all, congratulations on an excellent election number,” he was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel. “I know it’s a winning card.”

As everyone knows, 88 is code used by neo-Nazis to mean “Heil Hitler,” or “HH.”

It is odd why Junnila now apologizes for such inappropriate behavior by stating on Twitter that “I condemn holocaust, antisemitism and all anti-Semitic acts completely.”

Sorry, but Junnila’s about-face apology is BS served on a platter.

(From top left to right) Junnila visiting the United States and posing with Confederate General Robert E. Lee suggesting white supremacist sympathies. Wearing a Donald Trump MAGA (Make America Great Again) cap with former PS MP Veikko Vallin. Junnila giving a speech at a far-right rally in Turku in 2019.

The problematic far right, racism, misogyny, homophobia and rape delusions of the new Finnish government

Posted on June 25, 2023June 25, 2023 by Migrant Tales

The government fuels two matters: loss of credibility and polarization of society.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government, considered the most right wing since the 1930s, faced a storm of controversy on its first day not because of its austerity program, which will hit the most vulnerable sectors of society, but because of its embarrassing links to neo-Nazis and racism.

Headlined Euronews: “Racism and rape fantasies: The PR headache facing Finland’s new right-wing government.” Madrid-based El País writes: “The far-right will control seven key ministries in the Finnish government.”

The Times of Israel doesn’t beat round the bush either: “[Minister of Economic Affairs] Vilhelm Junnila says previous [neo-Nazi] behavior was ‘foolish and immature’; another key figure in new government, House Speaker Jussi Halla-aho, also has history of racist remarks.”

Apart from taking part in a rally organized by far-right groups, Junnila congratulated in 2019 a PS candidate for receiving the 88 election number. “First of all, congratulations on an excellent election number,” he was quoted as saying in The Times of Israel. “I know it’s a winning card.”

As everyone knows, 88 is code used by neo-Nazis to mean “Heil Hitler,” or “HH.”

It is odd why Junnila now apologizes for such inappropriate behavior.

Minister Junnila, who claims to not house any extremist views, now apologizes for his “88” comment: “Those who know me, know that I am a moderate. I do not belong to any nationalist organisations [sic], nor do I plan joining any.” Source: Twitter

Junnila and former MP Veikko Vallin, givng the thumbs up with their MAGA caps. Source: Facebook

Labor discrimination in Finland is real

Posted on June 5, 2023June 5, 2023 by Migrant Tales

In 2020, foreigners made nationally 11,465 euros less annually than Finns.

While negotiations in process on forming a new government in Finland, it’s clear from the talks led by National Coalition Party (NCP) Prime Minister-designate Petteri Orpo that labor discrimination ranks low on their list of priorities.

The negotiators have the misguided expectation that non-EU migrants: will come here in droves and work for peanuts.

And migrants do work for much less than Finns. In 2020, the average taxable income nationally was 38,111 euros for Finns and 26,646 euros for migrants, an 11,465 euro difference,, according to a report by Pasi Saukkonen. For Helsinki and Greater Helsinki, the corresponding figures are 46,701 and 28,279, respectively.

Issues facing the labor market:

Foreigners in Finland made in 2020 nationally 11,465 euros less annually than Finns.
Discrimination in the labor market has been cited by a number of studies. Having a foreign-sounding name could be an obstacle to landing a job interview.
Finnish labor markets are highly racialized and segregated.
Having a university degree is in many cases not enough to get a better-paying job.
Discrimination in the housing market is another problem facing migrants and minorities.
The situation will get worse for migrants and minorities with the new government, which has a radical-right party that is openly xenophobic agenda supported by the National Coalition Party and Christian Democrats.

Adel Abidin: “Immigration Services” – an art exhibition about Iraqis in Finland

Posted on June 4, 2023June 12, 2023 by Migrant Tales

Migrant Tales insight: “Immigration Services” is an art exhibition that will debut in Reykjavík, Iceland, and aims to bring to light the suffering and challenges of Iraqi asylum seekers who came to Finland in 2015. It is encouraging that artists like Adel Abidin continue to show the injustices faced by Iraqi asylum seekers.

Go to the original Facebook posting here.

Thank you, Outi Popp for the heads-up.

The new ethnonationlist “mixed race” PS youth leader

Posted on May 30, 2023May 30, 2023 by Migrant Tales

In the logic of the far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party, the new youth leader of the party is genetically suspect with one of his parents being from the Philippines. Certainly, his name, Lauri Laitinen, has helped, but it proves a point: cultural and ethnic diversity does not pave the way for greater understanding.

While my point is not to mock Laitinen’s background, it does raise some questions about hypocrisy. Ethnic background does not ensure a greater “understanding” of diversity but can have the opposite effect.

Disagree? Look at the Tory government in the UK and the hardline immigration policies of Suella Braverman.

Considering that the PS is a party that believes in ethnonationalism, so does Laitinen. It’s odd, that Helsingin Sanomat did not mention anything about this far-right conspiracy theory.

Laitinen defended in a Helsingin Sanomat letter to the editor why linguistic and ethnic homogeneity is a good matter. Laitinen likes to talk about “harmful” migration as a motive for why he got into politics.

Source: Helsingin Sanomat

It is interesting that Helsingin Sanomat gives so much space to the new youth leader of the PS and forgets to mention his problematic views about migrants, which are clearly against our laws.

Sebastian Tynkkynen: diapers, hate speech with a “Hungarian” heart

Posted on May 29, 2023May 29, 2023 by Migrant Tales

The far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS) party has gained significant traction by capitalizing on anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly targeting vulnerable groups such as Muslims.

In addition to their hostility towards migrants and minorities, many PS supporters and politicians hold admiration for autocratic leaders like Donald Trump and view Viktor Orbán’s Hungary as an ideal country to emulate.

However, it would be overly simplistic to solely attribute Finland’s racism and animosity to the PS. Other parties such as the National Coalition Party, Christian Democrats, Center Party, and even the Social Democrats also face challenges regarding racism.

For migrants contemplating joining a political party, the common concern revolves around identifying the one with the least amount of racism.

When examining the PS, it becomes evident that all of them have built their political careers on propagating racism and fostering animosity towards migrants and minorities.

One example of this is MP Sebastian Tynkkynen, whose notoriety stems from promoting false information, engaging in hate speech, and receiving three ethnic agitation convictions.

(Left) Sebastian Tynkkynen trying to make a point by wearing diapers. He voices his displeasure at an editorial that criticizes his party and asks why the media is unable to remain impartial. Answer: Why should a newspaper stay impartial in an editorial? Tynkkynen’s post shows his ignorance of the media.

A recent row erupted earlier this month in government talks when Tynkkynen asked his followers which YLE content is unnecessary.

if Tynkkynen had his way, like many other PS politicians, they’d tell the media what they can write.

Sounds like a party with a “Hungarian” heart, right?

Letter from Christian Thibault about the formation of a new government

Posted on May 28, 2023May 29, 2023 by Migrant Tales

I am currently not very motivated to help a government that includes the Finns Party to succeed, but for the sake of the Swedish People’s Party (SPP) and the country, I am writing this post anyway.

I believe that SPP should demand tomorrow that the government program must include that all changes regarding immigration be postponed until the government has created a completely new immigration program based on a positive future vision for the next 20-30 years. We must do it anyway
because the current situation has been anything but good. Current laws and methods have been built in many small steps in a very amateurish manner without experience and knowledge over the past 30-40 years. And in the same amateurish way, they have also been cut and changed without
a comprehensive concept.

As a result, we lack workforce and have managed to become the most racist country in Europe according to a 2018 survey comparing 12 EU states, including Sweden and Denmark. Unfortunately, the Marin
government has not changed much about it either; last year we were reminded and warned by the EU Commission because we had not implemented changes.

But it should not be external pressure that motivates us; as mentioned, it should be a positive future vision regarding immigration that leads us. A vision of a cohesive country that can attract the best workforce from everywhere in the world and that provides security for immigrants and ethnic minorities and their families who are already. There has to be an end to demotivating and frustrating those who constitute our only growing population segment. We need to be a country that contributes its part to alleviate the distress in the world. A country that draw energy, inspiration, and innovation from all its population parts, and where everyone has the right to be happy, find suitable work, and feel part of society. A country that respects international agreements and where everyone can contribute to the welfare.

I do not believe that there is a great risk that, against my will, I am helping the Finns Party to participate in a successful government; one can hardly expect them to accept good advice.

The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of Migrant Tales.

Say no to Petteri Orpo, Riikka Purra, and the new government in formation. We must fight back!

Posted on May 28, 2023May 28, 2023 by Migrant Tales

If migration policy is based on lies, suspicion and racism, it is doomed to fail.

The attacks and hostility against the migrant and minority community in Finland intensified. The Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party has assured its supporters that there will be a significant tightening of immigration policies. This comes after reaching an agreement with the Swedish People’s Party (SPP) on such policies.

The PS and SPP were at loggerheads over the new government’s immigration policy. While the head of the PS, Riikka Purra, gave an ultimatum that it would pull out of the talks if the Swedish People’s Party did not accept the proposal on immigration policy.

Despite the dramatic nature of the events that unfolded on Saturday, resembling a second-rate soap opera, the PS ate its words and went through some points that the SPP had made.

Helsingin Sanomat, Finland’s leading daily, reported: “The SPP made changes that the tightening of immigration policy must be carried out within the limits of the constitution [and] the right of asylum seekers not to be deported will be respected.”

Yes, you read right. The SPP is asking that any tightening of immigration policy must respect the constitution and deportation bans will also be respected.