Tag: Perussuomalaiset

By Enrique Tessieri

Are the Perussuomalaiset (PS) a violent party? Despite a story that was published widely by the media last week, there were no conclusions made from an ongoing study that a part of the PS approves violence, according to think tank Demos. The British-based think tank will, however, publish the results of a wider study on online populism in Europe later this year.

“Demos understands that the source of the stories came from a private briefing during which no link between the Finns party (PS) and violence was made. Allegations about the research findings had not been verified or checked with Demos,” according to a statement by the think tank.

So what gives? Nothing, really, except for a storm in a tea-cup by the PS which are throwing punches at shadows about the conclusions of the Demos report, which were never made in the first place.

But when one reads the Nuiva manifesto and anti-immigration views of the likes of PS MP Jussi Halla-aho, James Hirvisaari and others, it’s not difficult to conclude that violence and hostility come in many shapes and forms in Timo Soini’s party. Those that perpetrate violence and racism are naturally the last ones to admit it.

A quote by Scottish psychiatrist R D Laing’s (1927-89) could apply well to the world of denial that the PS is presently immersed in:  “We are effectively destroying ourselves by violence masquerading as love.” In other words, some PS MPs attack the common decency of  people and masquerade this hatred as free speech.

That is how low some politicians have stooped in Finland lately.

Whether these groups spew racism or show their anti-democratic credentials  on social media sites such as Facebook, rarely is the victim’s opinion asked by the Finnish media although this happens occasionally. There is no better source to comment on a social ill like racism than the victim.

Why does the PS cry foul every time they stick their foot in their mouths or when they expose their odd sense of humor like branding journalists “bloodthirsty hyenas?”

Because their hostile statements and views on groups like immigrants is violent and rightfully questioned by the media and our sense of decency.

By Enrique Tessieri

The sooner we comprehend as a society that the far-right wing of the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party led by MP Jussi Halla-aho and his cronies are a threat to our Nordic way of life the better. There are already clear signs that this group of MPs in the PS has not only become a thorn in Timo Soini’s side but is being shunned by other political parties and the public.

Who would have thought that a groups of anti-immigrant fanatics that twirled the Finnish media and dazzled the public with the racist statements before the April election would see their wings severely clipped today?

Former Prime Minister and Social Democrat presidential hopeful, Paavo Lipponen, blasted Sunday Halla-aho and his followers, which he called “far-right extremists.”  Center Party head Mari Kiviniemi was quoted as saying on Monday’s Helsingin Sanomat that cooperation in the opposition with the PS has been “spoiled” by the far-right wing of that party.

Apart from being under close scrutiny by the Finnish media and public, these group of far-right extremists probably never imagined the stiff opposition they’d face as MPs especially after the mass killings in Norway by Anders Breivik on July 22.

Halla-aho’s style is pretty easy to predict: He enjoys jolting the public by surprise with his provocative statements. Before his suggestion that Greece should install a military junta to quell protesters, he had said that “multiculturalism sucks ass.”

Certainly Halla-aho, who is chairman of the important administration committee of parliament, which sets among other matters immigration policy, “multiculturalism” is only a policy that permits Muslims and non-Europeans from moving to Finland and Europe. He does not tell you that multiculturalism is a social policy used in Canada, Britain and Australia to integrate immigrants.

One of the biggest mistakes that Halla-aho and his followers have made is that they believe in their own racism and lies.

The so-called immigrant-critical group of the PS led by Halla-aho is made up of the following MPs: James Hirvisaari, Juho Eerola, Olli Immonen, Ari Jalonen and Maria Lohela.