Finland’s parliament will vote today for the pushback law law that should b seen as another nail in the coffin of Finland’s experiment in being a more open country based on Human Rights. After Finland became an EU member in 1995, many monumental legal changes changes were made, like the drafting of the new constitution strongly grounded on Human Rights.
During the Cold War, Human Rights were never held in high esteem. The reason was Finland’s policy of appeasement to the former Soviet Union. Speaking out for Human Rights, never mind joining the Council of Europe back then, would have been unthinkable because it would put in jeaoparty Finnish-Soviet relations.
Many of the politicians in Parliament, like NCP MP Ben Zyskowicz, served during the Cold War era and explains why he doesn’t place a lot of importance on Human Rights and is ready to ridicule legal experts who have spoken out against the pushback law.
It should not be a surprise that parties like the radical-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)*, and National Coalition Party (NCP) with the cheerleading of the Christian Democrats, Swedish People’s Party and Center Party, are watering down the civil right gains made after EU membership.
It is not only the purshback law what will chip away at our fundamental rights, but other ones already promosted by the government. These include labor rights, social security and migrant rights. Since we are on a slippery slope, is the next step to take away the dual citizenship rights of Finnish-Russians?
If there is one matter that surprises me the most about the present situation is how easy it is for the government to implement this dangerous development.
In a recent interview on an Italian TV program on the Finnish-Russian border, I mentioned that in many respects Finland resembles a small town. Add to the latter anti-Russian sentiment, and iyou have a winning argment.
Whatever the outcome of the voting today on the pushback law, today will be remembered as a day for infamy for Human Rights in Finland.
