Populism is an ugly political force because it’s based on hearsay and on the victimization of migrants and minorities. Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Vesa-Matti Saarakkala claimed Friday on Ilkka that schools are censoring traditional Christian festivities to appease migrants and atheists. Saarakkala felt so strongly about the matter that he sent a written question to the government. …
Tag: Vesa-Matti Saarakkala
National Coalition Party and Perussuomalaiset lead anti-immigration drive in Finland
With parliamentary elections nearing in April, topping the anti-immigration rhetoric list are two parties with representatives in parliament: National Coalition Party and who else but the Perussuomalaiset (PS)*. We’ve been reading almost daily about National Coalition Party MP Pia Kauma’s crusade against migrant women with baby carriages. The PS are another hostile party to migrants…
Why does the Finnish media give so much attention to anti-immigration politicians and parties?
I was invited on Tuesday to speak at a seminar on immigration* for YLE journalists. One of the questions I asked was why do Finnish journalists give so much space and attention to far-right anti-immigration politicians? Why do some give racists inflated respectability and importance? A recent story about Finland accepting 500 refugees from war-torn Syria…