Finland’s xenophobic message has been based for years on lies. Instead of lying, why not ratchet up the hostile environment against migrants and minorities? Be honest with yourself. The government is now spearheading these lies to justify their inhumane and counterproductive policies.
Just like in the UK in 2012, Finland is passing laws to make staying in the country as difficult as possible.
Considering Finland suffers from a labor shortage due to its aging population, what is the motive for tightening further migration laws, or as Perussuomalaiset (PS) Interior Minister Mari Rantanen called a paradigm shift?

Another example of the hostile environment was a government announcement in July to prohibit basic health care for undocumented migrants. Source: Yle News

Thank you Ambrosius @ambrowoll for the heads-up!
Pasi Saukkonen, senior researcher at the Urban Research and Statistics unit of the City of Helsinki, said what has been known for a very long time: “Finland has never been a major destination for international migration. The share of the foreign-born population is among the lowest in Europe. Refugee numbers have been low, with more asylum seekers arriving only in the early 1990s and in 2015.”
Historically, we could call Finland a nation of emigration.
Being a land of emigration has distorted our view of things. Instead of seeing the world as an opportunity, it’s seen by too many as a threat. This is understandable considering our difficult history with the former Soviet Union. Even so, wars and conflicts end and we must learn to move on, even if the Ukraine crisis has reinforced our worst prejudices.
But let’s go back to the question and ask why all this hostility against migrants fueled mainly by the PS and supported by government parties like the National Coalition Party?
The answer:
- Ignorance
- Hatred of difference
- Political opportunism
- Denialism (not seeing the elephant in the room)
In light of the latter and the hostile environment policies of the government, what we are seeing is a country’s migration policy government by populist lies and wishful thinking.
All of these policies of the government against trade unions and social welare recipients, which are wrecking our social welfare state, are turning Finland into a backwater of Europe imprisoned by its bigotry and sense of false nationalism.
Outraged, maybe?
You shouldn’t be because it is what it is.
