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…
Tag: Racism
The PS’ new board spells trouble for the party but good news for those who oppose far-right anti-immigration populism
The Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party congress at Lahti exposed to the tee the far-right and racist beast that has always lurked inside the party. Riikka Purra, who won easy reelection as chairperson, rambled on with typical far-right talking points. Claiming that white Finnish culture was under attack, she placed the blame on so-called mass immigration from…
A tabloid article that exposes the media’s and Finland’s racism problem to the tee
An article in tabloid Iltalehti aims to reinforce readers about why “kids with migrant backgrounds” are a problem, but instead reveals the racist attitudes of the tabloid and of some comprehensive school teachers. I suspect that one of the reasons why Iltalehti uses anonymous sources is because no respecting teacher would go on the record…
A promising result about the Perussuomalaiset
The worst enemy of the Perussuomalaiset is the Perussuomalaiset. The recent opinion poll published by Yle is a source of hope that Finland is finally awakening from its 2011 general election nightmare, when the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* saw its MPs in parliament soar to 39 from five previously. The latest poll shows that the PS’ support…
The cyanide capsule of the authoritarian ruler
One of the lessons that I learned from my native Argentina, is that political turmoil caused by autocrats like military rulers have their days counted when they believe they are invincible. Today, we are witnessing it in the United States under the Trump regime. As he promised, Trump is an autocrat from day one challenging…
The politicization of “street gangs” has eaten away at the police’s credibility
The recent resignation of former Chief Nnspector Jari Taponen and others from the police reveals the extent to which populist politics has infiltrated the police. In 2023, and with funding from the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), the EU’s largest anti-racism NGO, we published a report showing how parties like the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* use migrant…
When racism becomes normal in Finland
The normalization of racism and government policy that reinforces the social illness are the sad examples that will get worse as long as National Coalition Party Prime Minister Petter Orpo leads the government with the Perussuomalaiset (PS).* One way of putting some breaks on the adverse climate of polarization and xenophobia is by forcing the…
Uutissuomalainen: The government’s anti-racism training lasts an hour (including discussion included!)
You cannot make this up. National Coalition Party Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government plans to offer an hour-long anti-racism training for the government. The training has been postponed to after the municipal and regional elections of April. “It will be an intensive training of about an hour, including discussion,” Katriina Nousiainen, project manager and senior…
Evidence shows why the Perussuomalaiset party is “openly Islamophobic”
I’m always surprised by the aha moment of the mainstream media when it comes to the hostile and polarizing message of the Perussuomalaiset (PS).* After PS Interior Minister Mari Rantanen was caught with her hand in the cookie jar by attempting to favor Christians over Muslims in the quota-refugee scheme, Finland’s biggest daily reported that…
The Perussuomalaiset are “openly Islamophobic,” according to the non-discrimination ombudsman
The Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party is known for its hostility and attacks against migrants and minorities as well as anyone who dares call them what they are: a party that peddles racism. In a statement Thursday, the non-discrimination ombudsman, said that the actions of PS Minister of Interior Mari Rantanen were discriminatory when the ministry attempted…