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 developing countries that places strains on public services and will force the welfare state to collapse.
Purra equating Islam with “cultural intrusion” and how this is destroying the white social fabric of Finland. Oddly, she used the annual World Village Festival in Helsinki as an example of the cultural intrusion, which includes Islamization.
Without mentioning anyone specific, Purra states that “some decision-makers have themselves allowed, themselves demanded, and themselves promoted” the disintegration of Finnish culture.
If there are still any doubts that the PS isn’t a far-right and racist party, Purra’s speech leaves no room for doubt. Not only are her words offensive to migrants and minorities in Finland, but they are also a warning that matters could evolve like in the United States under Donald Trump.
The newly elected leadership of the PS. From left to right: Party secretary Harri Vuorenpää, Simo Grönroos, Teemu Keskisarja, Riikka Purra, and Joakim VIgelius. Source: Suomen Uutiset.
In the face of three disastrous elections and sinking popularity in the polls, it would be too good to be true that Purra and her ilk could have it their way.
Two surprises and a rebuke of Purra’s leadership occurred: the election of far-right Teemu Keskisarja as first vice president and Simo Grönroos as third vice president. Keskisarja beat Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen, a Purra favorite, and Sebastian Tynkkynen lost to Simo Grönroos.
Grönroos has a long track record of spreading anti-immigration lies as the executive director of the PS think tank Suomen Perusta Foundation, whose findings about “evil immigration” are only credible to those with an agenda.
The election of the PS new board as it heads towards the general election of 2027 is the best matter that could happen to those who see the party as a threat to democracy and our Nordic way of life.
The new board also took a swipe at Prime Minister Petteri Orpo by Keskisarja, Vigelius openly calling the government’s anti-racism program a joke
