THE STORY WAS UPDATED
There’s good news and bad news. Depending on your perspective, bad news can be good news and vice-versa. In the latest opinion poll published by Yle, the far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party saw its support nosedive by three percentage points to 15%.
While it would be simplistic only to blame the regional election, other factors like PS chairperson Riikka Purra’s poor leadership, living in large and small populist bubbles, and brainless nationalism are just a few factors that contributed to the fall in popularity.
But above all, I have to thank the PS team that put together the last campaign strategy, namely MP Mauri “Perkele” Peltokangas, party secretary Arto Luukkanen, and Purra, who gave their blessing to such populist malarkey.
Imagine the party raised the issue of petrol prices at the pumps and so-called harmful migration as their main campaign message in the regional election, which will decide on health care and emergency services.
Regional councils cannot decide on petrol prices or immigration policy.
A disappointed Purra of the last election result said that the big campaign issues of next year’s parliamentary election would be their fail-safe theme, “harmful” migration.
I have a suggestion for the PS and know that this will help them turn away voters: Get Peltokangas to drive to a service station as in the commercial and tank up with petrol with high octane levels of migrants and anti-EU sentiment.
Here’s the dialogue:
“How can our party survive as our ratings head south in leaps and bounds?” asks Peltokangas. “No party can survive under these conditions. But what about if we tank up with high-octane migrant and anti-EU petrol to give us an extra boost?”
“Fantastic idea!”
“Our message will be heard and resonate like a monstrous expulsion of exhaust that backfires.”
