Perussuomalaiset Archives - Page 40 of 161

Finland’s PM Sanna Marin is the target of fierce misogynistic attack by online users

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Migrant Tales

A story published Wednesday in Politico exposed the misogyny against Finland’s woman prime minister, Sanna Marin, and the women members of her cabinet. Considering that Finland’s biggest opposition party, the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* which is also leading in opinion polls, hate speech has raised its head for many years.

Hate speech and the PS are like a perfect couple walking in the park with a rabid dog on a short leash. The dog, which is used to impress voters, eventually bites its owners, and hard.

A report from the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence concluded that Marin’s government is “overwhelmingly” targeted by sexist online harassment.

Politico writes: “The five most targeted ministers, all female, were overwhelmingly victimized by misogynistic abuse attacking their values, demeaning their decision-making skills, and questioning their leadership abilities.”

So much for the myth of gender equality in Finland and that the police clamping down on online hate speech.

One of the most revealing matters about the report is that there are many similarities to the hate tactics of former US President Donald Trump.

Jussi Halla-aho is a racist, and so is the far-right party he leads

Posted on March 17, 2021 by Migrant Tales

Uusi Suomi, an online publication that played a key role before the 2011 parliamentary elections in giving the racist rhetoric of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party a platform, published today an interview with a cultural researcher, Tuija Saresma, who concluded that Jussi Halla-aho and the PS are racist.

While these types of statements are a foregone conclusion about Halla-aho and the PS, the big question is why Finnish society appears so impotent in the face of these social ills.

**Read the full story (in Finnish) here.**

How do you explain the rise of a party in 2011, which won 39 seats in parliament from 5 previously, became the most successful party in parliamentary elections during the last decade?

Some factors explaining Finnish society’s racist and exclusive disposition is its near-geopolitical isolation during the Cold War. The lack of cultural and ethnic diversity, and the whitewashing of this history, have also help feed racism and white nationalism.

Any sensible person will conclude that white Finnish nationalism and racism get their power from the PS. Attacking brown and black Finns and other minorities with the intent of polarizing society creates a dilemma for the party and the country.

How can we state with a straight face that we are for social equality and human dignity when we exclude in a hostile manner, other people?

An insightful Op-Ed article in The Guardian by David Bromell on the impact of the Christchurch killings, sheds light on some of the problems that countries like Finland face in tackling hate speech.

He writes: “There will always be idiots who shoot their mouths off – but in a democratic society we need to learn to live together.”

According to Bromell, public policy should focus on the “effect of harm” and not on the emotions of hatred or offence since you cannot regulate this in an open and democratic society.

But here comes the punchline: “Stirring up and inciting discrimination, hostility or violence against members of a social group, however, is and should be a crime. This may involve speech, but incitement can also be written, mimed, memed, graffitied, cartooned or tweeted.”

The rise of a racist party like the PS in Finland entrenched in white nationalism is not only shameful but reveals how vulnerable and unprepared society and institutions are in challenging such social ills.

Exposing white Finnish privilege #78: the spread and acceptance of white nationalism

Posted on March 16, 2021 by Migrant Tales

THE STORY WAS UPDATED

Events after the storming of the Capitol building in Washington on January 6 exposed white nationalist terrorism as the biggest threat facing the United States. Since the events that took place at the Capitol did not happen spontaneously, are we going to see something similar in Finland’s ever-hostile far-right groups like the PS?

As with the United States, is there a blind spot to this threat if the people spreading violence are white Finns? Does Finnish law enforcement take this threat seriously?

There is a strong indication that law enforcement is not up to the job. One of the problems is that such institutions are white and run by men. With so little participation of minorities such as brown and black Finns in the police, newsrooms, and the halls of power, it is not surprising that the anti-racism debate in this country is one-sided and dominated by whites.

The best example of Finland’s racism blind spot is the rise of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party and other far-right groups, which have become more vocal in recent years. It is amusing in a negative light that a party like the PS, where the vast majority of its municipal election candidates are white Finnish males, are dead set on denying minorities equal rights.

Even if we give recognition this week to the UN Anti-Racism Day, behind the chatter we find extraordinarily little action to challenge those institutions that give racism and white nationalism its legitimacy. We don’t do enough as a society because we don’t want to.

A Migrant Tales style guide to writing about migration: avoid words that hide our racism and denial

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Migrant Tales

After over twenty years in journalism and writing for some of the world’s most prestigious publications and having worked as a foreign correspondent in countries like Finland, Italy, Colombia, and others, I have learned a thing or two about journalistic style and correctness.

On top of my journalistic experience, I am a sociologist who has researched immigration topics like Finnish immigration to Argentina.

I have written about immigration and minority topics for almost 14 years in Migrant Tales. In those years, Migrant Tales has published 4,990 posts, which is an average of one posting per day.

Below is a list of terms and observations together with recommendations for journalists and others that write about this topic, which I plan to update in the future:

Maahanmuuttajat is the term in Finnish for migrants. By using the term, we perpetuate stereotypes about this vastly diverse group. We generalize and, with it, fall into the trap of perpetuating stereotypes.
When a reporter interviews an Islamophobic politician and uses the term maahanmuuttajat liberally, he gives such a politician a free pass. If we dig deeper and try to decipher what the term means, it is a code word for non-EU nationals who are Muslims and come from Africa.
If you disagree, ask yourself if Swedes and other EU nationals are called maahanmuuttajat.
Using such a term to speak about “foreigners” is the same as grouping all Europeans into one category, which would be absurd. This is misleading and wrong.
The use of terms such as maahanmuuttajat is not only enabling an anti-immigration party to continue labeling and victimizing non-EU citizens, it also helps us to cover up and deny the racism in our society.
Maahanmuuttajataustainen, a person of foreign origin, is a sinister word used by anti-immigration politicians and public officials to intentionally or non-intentionally exclude first-generation Finns.
Here is a question: What would happen if we would drop the concept label “person of foreign origin” from our vocabulary? In my opinion, it would fast-forward inclusion.
One of the biggest question marks that first-generation Finns and minorities have is their exclusion and how their background does not make them “a real” Finn.
Using such terms encourages exclusion and a sense of outsiderness of such people who are equal members of this society on their own terms.
By using “person of foreign origin” on children born here and who speak Finnish as their main language, we strengthen white Finnish privilege. We tell such brown and black Finns that they are outsiders and that white people are the only cultural standard.

What threatens Finland’s Nordic welfare state? Follow the racism, stupid.

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Migrant Tales

There is a sense of déjà vu as the municipal elections in Finland near on April 18. Once again, the media is not questioning or challenging the toxic message of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party, but showing its usual tacit approval.

The most notable examples of this type of approval demonstrated by the media are silence and inaction.

As Muslim activist Julie Pascoet stated, silence is not only a political statement but perpetuating white privilege and inequality. .

State-owned news outlets like Yle continue fueling the PS stranglehold on the country by stating that they will make significant gains in the municipal elections.

Opinion polls may indicate this to be the case, but where is the critical journalism?

Populism and lack of leadership under Petteri Orpo fuel Kokoomus’ tailspin

Posted on February 28, 2021 by Migrant Tales

The National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) received a political bomb that exposed the party’s internal strife between its liberal and populist-conservative wing.

Kokoomus’ candidate for Helsinki mayor, Kirsi Piha, and Helsinki city councilor Hanna Gullichsen, both party’s liberal wing, announced they would step aside.

Piha stated in a blog posting her decision to pull out from the mayorship race of Helsinki exposed the deep ideological fight between the liberal and populist-conservative factions.

Just like Piha, who said she would not stand for Helsinki city council, so did Gullichsen announced not to seek reelection.

Both Piha and Gullichsen were clear about their decision.

Piha said that her values conflict with the leadership of Kokoomus under its leader, Petter Orpo.

“Kokoomus’ base value is to create wellbeing and active society where everyone has opportunities, work and to live a good life,” she wrote. “Everyone. It is not based on stereotypes and by the thought that marginalizes [other groups]. Human dignity must not be politicized.”

Former PS MP Ano Turtiainen gets sacked from the party

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Migrant Tales

It took a while, but, in the end, it came: MP Ano Turtiainen got sacked Friday from the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party after being expelled in June from the PS parliamentary group. The interesting question that the PS board’s decision offers is what it means for the party and Turtiainen’s political future.

An incident between PS Speaker of Parliament Juho Eerola and Turtiainen after a session was the stick that broke the camel’s back. Eerola had asked Turtiainen, who believes that Covid-19 is a conspiracy, to wear a mask while in a parliamentary session.

The comment by Eerola angered Turtiainen, and he started to insult the speaker of parliament in the hallway.

For the PS, the incident shows how little due diligence they do on their party members. If you hate migrants, gays, and feminists, that’s ok.

By kicking out a member, who is an MP, is already a serious matter. The PS board made its decision to save the party’s skin and dubious reputation. There are no ethical considerations except for the fear that Turtiainen can undermine the party’s popularity.

Perussuomalaisten mukaan, maahanmuuttopolitiikka säädellään valtuustossa

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Migrant Tales

Ovatko nyt menossa kuntavaalit tai eduskuntavaalit? Jos tärkkäillään perussuomalaisten vaalimainoksia, voidaan päätellä, että valtuustossa tehdään maahanmuuttopolitiikka kuten eduskunnassa.

Värin.

Perusuomalaisten puoluesihteeri, Simo Grönroos (huom. ruotsalainen sukunimi), ruokkii vastakkainasettelua ja valetietoja maahanmuutosta. Hän on äärioikeistolainen etnonationalisti ja fasistisen Suomen Sisun aktiivi.

Mitä Grönroos ja perussuomalaiset oikeasti tarkoittavat, kun puhuvat “maahanmuuttajista?” Suurin osa maahanmuuttajat Suomessa ovat valkoisia eurooppalaisia.

Vaalimainos väittää:

Maahanmuutto tuo enemmän julkisia menoja, kun se kasvattaa verotuloja
Kadut muuttuvat turvattomiksi, koulut levottomiksi, asuinalueet suomalaisille vieraiksi
Suomi on toistamassa Ruotsin virheet maahanmuuton suhteen.

Washington Post olisi antanut näille väitelle neljä Pinokkiota.

Kadut muuttuvat turvattomiksi, koulut levottomiksi, asuinalueet suomalaisille vieraiksi. Ruotsin tie ei ole meidän.

Muutosta tarvitaan. Lähde ehdolle. Tänä keväänä on sinun vuorosi nousta vaikuttamaan asioihin.#kuntavaalit #kuntavaalit2021 #perussuomalaiset #suomitakaisin pic.twitter.com/kzw3uWGrZl
— Perussuomalaiset (@persut) February 23, 2021

Nolo ja harhaanjohtava mainos perussuomalaisista.

Vaalimainos on mielestäni potaska.

The far right and their rabid show dog in Finland that knows no master

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Migrant Tales

If there is one matter that will bring down the far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party, it is their racist and nationalistic ideology. We already saw this on 22/7 with Anders Breivik and now with political violence against Pekka Kataja of the same party.

On July 17, Kataja was paid a visit by three men who attacked him with a hammer and another weapon. After receiving twenty blows to the head, he was kicked on the floor by the suspects.

At first, two men were suspected but were released later from custody after offering credible alibis.

The police believe that the attempted murder case against Kataja is political. A 41-year-old person is now in police custody as one of the suspects, with two others still at large.

The prime suspect has published on far-right websites under his own name.

Since the crime against Kataja is somehow connected to anger against Kataja for not allowing Torssonen to run for parliament in 2019 because of his far-right ideology, it will be interesting to see who the perpetrators are and their connections to far-right ideology and the PS.

Is there greater complicity, and what about the PS? Even if Torsssonen was sacked from the PS, it does not rule out wider complicity. If there is a clear connection to the PS, it may impact the party’s success in the upcoming municipal elections.

Migrant Tales has referred to racism as a rabid dog shown off by Islamophobes. The dog, which attracts a lot of attention, is kept on a short leash. Even so, the rabid dog may bite its master, and hard.

The rise and fall of Timo Soini as PS chairman is a perfect example of the rabid dog. It also resembles the plot of the 1931 classic Frankenstein movie, where a monster is brought to life that later kills his creator.

Länsi-Savo: Olemme kaikki mikkeliläisiä

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Migrant Tales

Länsi-Savo kirjoittaa Perussuomalaisten kunnalisvaaliehdokas Jorma T. Hartikaisesta:

”Mikkelissä perussuomalaisten kuntavaaliedokkaana oleva Jorma T. Hartikainen hourittelee, homottelee ja muuten vain solvaa Facebookissa poliitikkoja ja maahanmuuttajia.”Hartikainen vastaa: ””Kyse on enemmän siitä, että sanoin asiat selkeästi, ettei jää epäselvyyttä, mitä tarkoittaa.”

Valitettavasti Hartikainen ei ole ainut kuntavaaliehdokas, joka syyllistyy epäasiallisista kirjoituksista.

Länsi-Savo jatkaa: ”Mikkelin seudun perussuomalaisten puheenjohtaja Raimo Heinänen sanoo, että hän on tietoinen Hartikaisen Facebook-päivityksistä, mutta ei ole lukenut aivan viimeisiä.”

Kirjoittaa Heinänen: “Tutustuttuani niihin tulen esittämään Mikkelin seudun perussuomalaisten hallitukselle JT Hartikaisen poistamista valtuustoehdokkuudesta.”

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Oli pettymys lukea (LS 6.2.), kuinka perussuomalaisten listalle ilmoittautunut sitoutumaton (Jorma T. Hartikainen) kunnallisvaaliehdokas oli haukkunut demareita, kuten pääministeri Sanna Marinia, Satu Taavitsaista, vihreitä, naisia, seksuaalivähemmistöjä ja maahanmuuttajia.

Kaikissa kommenteissa oli annos väkivaltaa.

Ei näin.

Suomi ja Mikkeli ovat onneksi muuttuneet. Muistan hyvin, kun ensimmäinen vastaanottokeskus tuli Mikkelin Varsavuoreen 1990-luvulla.

Tein silloin ison jutun Apu-lehteen, jossa ihmettelin miten töykeästi kotikaupunkini oli kohdellut turvapaikanhakijoita.

Huutelu kadulla ja vihamielinen käytös näitä ihmisiä kohtaan oli arkipäivää.

Jutun julkaisun jälkeen sain ensimmäisen kerran tappouhkauksia.

Tämä yllätti minut, vaikka kotimaassani Argentiinassa olin tottunut siihen, että toimittajia vangittiin ja heitä katosi.