Riikka Purra
Racism debate: Finnish government in distress
Riikka Purra wrote a series of racist comments in 2008. photo
© Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva/dpa
Does Parliament meet unscheduled during the summer break? That’s exactly what the opposition in Finland wants. The reason is Deputy Prime Minister Riikka Purra.
Just a few weeks after taking office, the new right-wing conservative government is in Finland has come under pressure because of a debate about racism among the co-governing right-wing populists. The opposition around the Social Democrats called on the Speaker of the Parliament, Jussi Halla-aho, to bring Parliament out of the summer break unscheduled.
The reason for this is a controversy surrounding Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Riikka Purra. The 46-year-old has been head of the right-wing populist party The Finns, which Halla-aho led before her, since 2021.
Purra wrote a series of racist and violent comments on a blog in 2008. She had to apologize publicly this week. She affirmed that she did not accept any form of violence, racism or discrimination.
Meeting with Chancellor Scholz
The conservative Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo was in Berlin for his inaugural visit to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). After the conversation, Scholz emphasized that Orpo had distanced himself from racism.
“He assured me that the government he leads will pursue a policy like we know it from Finland. He also said very clearly that racism is something that is out of the question,” said Scholz.
The Finnish opposition parties stated in their letter that the Chamber of Deputies should meet in Helsinki to debate the positions of cabinet members and the functioning of the government of conservative Petteri Orpo. The positions of government ministers have already damaged Finland’s international reputation.
Confidence Vote Against Purrah?
If Halla-aho convenes Parliament, the move could result in a vote of confidence against Purra with an uncertain outcome. The Swedish People’s Party (SFP), which sits in the governing coalition but is highly critical of the positions of the right, could play a decisive role in this. The SFP faction wants to meet to discuss the scandal.
Orpo’s government has only been in office since June 20. After only ten days, she had to cope with the resignation of the right-wing populist Economics Minister Vilhelm Junnila because of his contacts in the right-wing extremist scene and jokes about Nazi symbols.