Languish.org

The Finnish parliamentary elections are coming up on Sunday and will determine our government for the next 4 years. The current center-left government led by Sanna Marin (first one in the poll above) and having a lot of female ministers has become somewhat famous around the world. Next one might be quite different. The poll includes leaders of all major and the more prominent minor parties. Cast your votes!

Bonus memey picture from one of the election debates!
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fryya5jWIAInFz3?format=jpg&name=large)

I think the PM is doing fine, but voted Catwoman because supervillain.

Sanna Marin have been most impressive handling the Ukrainian war. Compared to the assclowns ruling Sweden she has very much been the sober adult in the room.

She also fills the normal Languish standard when it comes to politicians, so my vote goes to her.

Obviously the woman with a sandpit.

Marin :wub:

Write in vote:

(https://i.postimg.cc/k4QJXgG6/image.png)

Otherwise Sanna. :wub:

Well this is unusual since I actually know who one of the candidates is  :P

Voted current pro-NATO government.

I went with #9, I'm pretty sure he threw his right eye down Mimir's Well in order to gain wisdom.  That's the sort of sacrifice far too few politicians are willing to make.

Quote from: Syt on March 31, 2023, 07:29:45 AMWrite in vote:

(https://i.postimg.cc/k4QJXgG6/image.png)

Otherwise Sanna. :wub:

Aren't you candidate #12?

Ten and Eleven are scarey, looked to have spent way too much of their time posting on the internet.

Otherwise not too bother, the current PM will have done marvelously to have Finland (and poss.Sweden) ensconced within NATO by the end of her term.

France and the UK should consider a revival of a Finish support intervention force, maybe also bring in the anglo-Dutch marine force and make it a duel role of suporting Norway and Finland whilst 'threatening' Russias far north (naval ports) ?

Quote from: mongers on March 31, 2023, 08:48:31 AMTen and Eleven are scarey, looked to have spent way too much of their time posting on the internet.

Those two guys would probably fit on Languish quite well. :D

Quote from: Grey Fox on March 31, 2023, 08:06:43 AMAren't you candidate #12?

:lol:

I don't razor-shave my head, though. -_-

Quote from: grumbler on March 31, 2023, 06:59:58 AMI think the PM is doing fine, but voted Catwoman because supervillain.

(https://preview.redd.it/33f8ik5sa1ra1.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=8575888f1b5fb10b08c76d0b2434d64b70845ecc)

I voted for the PM with a known party record.  :ph34r:

I see that Finnish male politicians favour wacky goatees.

Quote from: Grey Fox on March 31, 2023, 08:06:43 AM

Quote from: Syt on March 31, 2023, 07:29:45 AMWrite in vote:

Otherwise Sanna. :wub:

Aren't you candidate #12?

 :thumbsdown:

Low blow.

1,5,6 are in my "would" category. Voted Sanna of course.

I appreciate that #3 is trying to be even handed, but he can't seem to stop himself from tilting to the right.

Sana Marin.
For a center left politician, she is grounded, she appreciates real music, she has taken a real leadership position in the Ukraine War and is not taking Russia lightly hiding behind "peace".  Finland is in a solid position now having joined NATO.

If all center left politicians were like her, I might be leftist too.

Normally I would cast a joke vote for Smashing Pumpkins or Penn and Teller but the incumbent is too strong.

Languish clearly supports the current government. :D

Quote from: Solmyr on April 01, 2023, 07:52:46 AMLanguish clearly supports the current government. :D

It maybe also that some of can't get to the bottom of the long list of enormous photos, so choose one of the early options. :D

Quote from: mongers on April 01, 2023, 09:58:18 AM

Quote from: Solmyr on April 01, 2023, 07:52:46 AMLanguish clearly supports the current government. :D

It maybe also that some of can't get to the bottom of the long list of enormous photos, so choose one of the early options. :D

Or we just fancy Mrs. Marin.  :P

Today is election day. Will be interesting.

Votes are being tallied now (I was working in an election committee all day). Firm results probably late today or early tomorrow. Anyway, here are the people I included in this poll:

1. Sanna Marin, Social Democrats (center-left, current PM)
2. Riikka Purra, The Finns (far right/nationalist)
3. Petteri Orpo, National Coalition(center-right with both conservatives and liberals)
4. Annika Saarikko, Center Party
5. Li Andersson, Left Alliance (mainstream leftist party)
6. Maria Ohisalo, Green Party (liberal, somewhat left-leaning but with some right-leaning members)
7. Anna-Maja Henriksson, Swedish People's Party (these days fairly liberal)
8. Sari Essayah, Christian Democrats (super conservatives)
9. Harry "Hjallis" Harkimo, Movement Now (liberal center-right, tiny party centered around its leader)
10. Lassi Kivinen, Liberal Party (market liberals)
11. Pekka Mustonen, Pirate Party (nerds - as I mentioned he and the previous guy would fit well on Languish :D )
12. Tuukka Kuru, Blue-Blacks (fascists, one of the newest registered parties - they are racists and open about it)
13. Ano Turtiainen, Power Belongs to the People (crazy Putin fanboys, anti-NATO/antivaxxers/conspiracy theorists)

Right now it looks like the National Coalition is the biggest, followed by The Finns and then the Social Democrats. All three got more places at the expense of the smaller parties: Center Party, Greens and the Left Alliance are losing a bunch of places.

Projected new government is either "blue-red" (National Coalition, Social Democrats, Greens, Swedes) or dank conservative (National Coalition, The Finns, Christian Democrats).

Very surprised weird beard guy is the liberal.

Why do y'all need eight liberal parties?

Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 02, 2023, 04:53:02 PMWhy do y'all need eight liberal parties?

We are very liberal like that.

Quote from: Josquius on April 02, 2023, 04:21:19 PMVery surprised weird beard guy is the liberal.

Don't know. Not a million miles away from my mental image of "actually I'm a classical liberal" guys online   :ph34r:

Quote from: Sheilbh on April 02, 2023, 05:01:07 PMDon't know. Not a million miles away from my mental image of "actually I'm a classical liberal" guys online   :ph34r:

Redditor...

So #3 rapped his way to victory. Will miss Mrs. Marin.

Far right?

Quote from: HVC on April 02, 2023, 11:46:01 PMFar right?

No, conservatives.

Well that's not as bad. Hope he's a better dancer.

Sad outcome especially given how well she seemed to be doing

Its a tough time for incumbents; apolitical people will be noticing the economic problems and possibly incorrectly giving their current government all the blame.

I mean, the Social Democrats actually increased their share, which is extremely unusual for the party of the incumbent PM. However, the other government parties lost pretty badly.

The winner, National Coalition, are not that conservative, they are more of a market liberal, pro-big business, privatize everything and fuck the poor party.

Quote from: HVC on April 03, 2023, 12:40:33 AMWell that's not as bad. Hope he's a better dancer.

He's quite possibly the blandest of the current party leaders. :D

So Cat Lady is a left winger? Good to know.  :lol:

Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on April 03, 2023, 02:15:26 AMIts a tough time for incumbents; apolitical people will be noticing the economic problems and possibly incorrectly giving their current government all the blame.

Finnish PMs usually lose elections once in power. She did quite well, hopefully she'll be a FM in the new cabinet.

Quote from: HVC on April 03, 2023, 12:40:33 AMWell that's not as bad. Hope he's a better dancer.

Although the Finns also had their best every result and came second - but the top three are all within 1% of each other.

Also strong this vibes :lol:

Quotevictoria da silva
@njsilvadyne
every european election:
🔵 The People's Democrats (center-right) - 31%
🔴 Soviet Worker's Party (center/center-left) - 22%
⚫️ Citizen's Forum (fascist) - 19%
🟠 Wow! (center) - 11%
🟣 Friendship Is Magic (left) - 9%
🟢 Green Party - 8%

Quote from: Sheilbh on April 03, 2023, 06:48:34 AM

Quote from: HVC on April 03, 2023, 12:40:33 AMWell that's not as bad. Hope he's a better dancer.

Although the Finns also had their best every result and came second - but the top three are all within 1% of each other.

Also strong this vibes :lol:

Quotevictoria da silva
@njsilvadyne
every european election:
🔵 The People's Democrats (center-right) - 31%
🔴 Soviet Worker's Party (center/center-left) - 22%
⚫️ Citizen's Forum (fascist) - 19%
🟠 Wow! (center) - 11%
🟣 Friendship Is Magic (left) - 9%
🟢 Green Party - 8%

It needs a "True Worker's Party" at 3% or something.  :P

Wow! just makes me think of Renzi (although on 2% not 11%) :lol:

The Soviet Workers Party being center/center-left  :lmfao:

It's true though.

So long as the winners of this election also like NATO and hate Russia I am good.

It is a weird thing when your party gains seats and support and yet loses the election anyway.

Coalitions make things complicated

Quote from: Valmy on April 03, 2023, 11:06:53 AMIt is a weird thing when your party gains seats and support and yet loses the election anyway.

Welcome to multi-party system. :P

Yeah but in the English language media the headlines are something like "Finns oust PM Marin" suggesting she and her party were rejected by voters. The nuance is hard to sum up in snappy headlines and political narratives.

Quote from: Valmy on April 03, 2023, 09:09:28 AMSo long as the winners of this election also like NATO and hate Russia I am good.

Pretty much all the parties in parliament are pro-NATO these days, except a few fringe members of the Left Alliance and Ano Turtiainen (the last guy in the poll), who just got voted out.

Quote from: Valmy on April 03, 2023, 11:41:30 AMYeah but in the English language media the headlines are something like "Finns oust PM Marin" suggesting she and her party were rejected by voters. The nuance is hard to sum up in snappy headlines and political narratives.

Yeah, I think "oust" is a bit of a wrong word here, since she remains very popular and got the second most votes of all the candidates. If the Social Democrats are in the next government, she'll likely be a minister. There's also talk about her going to some EU position, since she's established good international contacts.

Quote from: Solmyr on April 03, 2023, 11:44:17 AMYeah, I think "oust" is a bit of a wrong word here, since she remains very popular and got the second most votes of all the candidates. If the Social Democrats are in the next government, she'll likely be a minister. There's also talk about her going to some EU position, since she's established good international contacts.

And the flipside is sometimes true too - where it can be almost tough to get rid of a less popular leader. I always think of Mark Rutte who I think has the lowest approval rating in the EU. But can get a decent return just from his party's core vote and is really good at coalition politics :lol:

I think she'd be a shoo-in for an EU role if she wanted it.

Quote from: Sheilbh on April 03, 2023, 11:49:57 AMAnd the flipside is sometimes true too - where it can be almost tough to get rid of a less popular leader. I always think of Mark Rutte who I think has the lowest approval rating in the EU. But can get a decent return just from his party's core vote and is really good at coalition politics :lol:

Teflon Mark is  rather special case. The weirdest thing is that in over the decade he's been PM the other parties have not managed to produce one credible leader to compete for the premiership. I blame calvinism  :sleep:

Quote from: Maladict on April 03, 2023, 01:49:01 PM

Quote from: Sheilbh on April 03, 2023, 11:49:57 AMAnd the flipside is sometimes true too - where it can be almost tough to get rid of a less popular leader. I always think of Mark Rutte who I think has the lowest approval rating in the EU. But can get a decent return just from his party's core vote and is really good at coalition politics :lol:

Teflon Mark is  rather special case. The weirdest thing is that in over the decade he's been PM the other parties have not managed to produce one credible leader to compete for the premiership. I blame calvinism  :sleep:

Sounds like Justin Trudeau.

I don't think I've ever met of heard of a die-hard Justin fan - Trudeaumania is dead and buried in the 1960sa - yet he continues to survive and could quite possibly win the next election too, despite the Conservatives polling slightly ahead fo him.

The people helping Trudeau the most have been conservative leaders. Pick better representatives :D

Quote from: Maladict on April 03, 2023, 01:49:01 PMI blame calvinism  :sleep:

My default assumption for explaining anything Dutch - it's either Calvinism or the Dutch instinct to raid the Thames :ph34r:

QuoteTeflon Mark is  rather special case. The weirdest thing is that in over the decade he's been PM the other parties have not managed to produce one credible leader to compete for the premiership.

I don't understand why it keeps happening because I swear that at the next election all of his coalition partners (except D66) have done horrendously bad :lol: Why is no-one learning this lesson?!

Also how does it work in the Netherlands for leaders - is it just party leader or something like a spitzenkandidat system?

Quote from: Sheilbh on April 03, 2023, 03:14:22 PM

QuoteTeflon Mark is  rather special case. The weirdest thing is that in over the decade he's been PM the other parties have not managed to produce one credible leader to compete for the premiership.

I don't understand why it keeps happening because I swear that at the next election all of his coalition partners (except D66) have done horrendously bad :lol: Why is no-one learning this lesson?!

Junior coalition parties usually take more of a beating in the next election, they typically sacrificed more of their election promises. It's the price of power.   Some parties, CDA in particular, will jump on any chance to be in government, no matter the cost. It's some kind of weird sense of Christian stewardship.

QuoteAlso how does it work in the Netherlands for leaders - is it just party leader or something like a spitzenkandidat system?

Yeah, Spitzenkandidat basically. First name on the ballot, often not the party leader.

There are 27 votes in this poll.  I didn't even know we had that many people left.

Quote from: HVC on April 03, 2023, 02:14:52 PMThe people helping Trudeau the most have been conservative leaders. Pick better representatives :D

O'Toole wasn't so bad.

Quote from: Razgovory on April 03, 2023, 04:13:35 PMThere are 27 votes in this poll.  I didn't even know we had that many people left.

All the Sanna fanboys came out to vote? :D

Quote from: viper37 on April 03, 2023, 09:20:24 PMO'Toole wasn't so bad.

Yeah, if the Conservatives hadn't ousted him he'd have a decent chance of winning next time around I think.

As for the topic on hand ...

Does anyone have any thoughts on what coalition configurations are most likely, and how long it'll take before they a government is agreed upon?

Probably going to be pretty intense and difficult, since the three big parties disagree on quite a few matters and the Social Democrats and The Finns have pretty much ruled out being in the same government. The Center Party has also indicated that it's going into the opposition this time (though they also said that after last elections and still joined the government).

The two main base combinations are National Coalition + Social Democrats + Greens + Swedish Party (badly divided on economy, with NC wanting large tax cuts and reduction of public sector and SD wanting to maintain welfare and social support, also Greens may not want to join the government after such a big loss); and National Coalition + The Finns + Christian Democrats + maybe Swedish Party (NC is pro-EU, pro-green energy and pro-immigration while TF is against those). Either way, the government will have a very slim majority in the parliament. The negotiations may well last until summer.

I assume Marin's government continues as a caretaker government until then?

Normally I'd expect a caretake government to refrain from making big decisions, but presumably if there's strong cross-party support they can still make substantial decisions to support Ukraine... or is that incorrect?

Quote from: Jacob on April 04, 2023, 11:10:17 AMI assume Marin's government continues as a caretaker government until then?

Normally I'd expect a caretake government to refrain from making big decisions, but presumably if there's strong cross-party support they can still make substantial decisions to support Ukraine... or is that incorrect?

They will continue until then, yes. Not sure what kind of decisions they will take, but I would guess if there's something Finland can do to aid Ukraine, it will be done.

Thanks :cheers:

Sanna Marin has just announced this morning that she will be stepping down from the leadership of the Social Democrats in September (when the party has its convention). Understandable, since she's had to deal with the covid pandemic and the Ukraine war during her term, as well as an unprecedented level of hateful shit from the right mostly because of being a young woman. She also said she won't be seeking any potential ministerial positions. She'll remain a regular MP, of course.

Might be tactical related to the government negotiations. Of course, she might still go for an EU job later. Some have even proposed her as Sec Gen of NATO. :D Finland will also have presidential elections next January and she is a popular choice in the polls.

Most PMs usually ride into the sunset after losing an election (unless they're Italian  :P). Sanna being so young, though, makes her future pretty intriguing.

Ok, she also said no to the presidential elections, so either some international job later on or really just chilling out.

So today Petteri Orpo of the National Coalition Party announced that he will try to negotiate forming a government together with The Finns, Christian Democrats, and Swedish People's Party. In other words, right-wing conservative government that includes far-right nationalists.  :bleeding:

Welcome to the club :cry:

Putin likes this?

Quote from: Solmyr on April 27, 2023, 08:32:55 AMSo today Petteri Orpo of the National Coalition Party announced that he will try to negotiate forming a government together with The Finns, Christian Democrats, and Swedish People's Party. In other words, right-wing conservative government that includes far-right nationalists.  :bleeding:

If they reach an agreement, how many mandates will they have (and what's the minimum number required)?

Quote from: Josquius on April 27, 2023, 08:42:14 AMPutin likes this?

Rather uniquely for most of Europe, the Finnish far-right nationalists are mostly anti-Russia (even though there've been some uncertainty), so there's that at least. :P

Quote from: Jacob on April 27, 2023, 10:09:52 AM

Quote from: Solmyr on April 27, 2023, 08:32:55 AMSo today Petteri Orpo of the National Coalition Party announced that he will try to negotiate forming a government together with The Finns, Christian Democrats, and Swedish People's Party. In other words, right-wing conservative government that includes far-right nationalists.  :bleeding:

If they reach an agreement, how many mandates will they have (and what's the minimum number required)?

National Coalition with 48, The Finns with 46, Swedish PP with 9, Christian Democrats with 5. So 107 seats in total, out of 200. One of the big parties will almost certainly get the the non-voting chairmanship, so that's one vote less. 106 out of 200 is a very thin majority, and the reason they needed the Swedish party (which is generally more liberal). There are some very big ideological differences here, too. For example, the National Coalition is very pro-EU and pro-work immigration, and also has increasingly come out for green energy (as the big business is supporting it). The Finns are against all immigration and green energy, and want to leave the EU. Likewise the Swedish party want to maintain the status of Swedish as an official second language being taught in schools, while the Finns want to abolish it and consider only Finnish speakers to be "real Finns". And the Finns' electorate is generally very hardline about ideological subjects, so there may not be much space for them to negotiate without being seen as "betraying" their voters. We'll see what they manage to agree on.

Stuff here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Finnish_parliamentary_election

Quote from: Solmyr on April 28, 2023, 03:36:31 AMRather uniquely for most of Europe, the Finnish far-right nationalists are mostly anti-Russia (even though there've been some uncertainty), so there's that at least. :P

:lol:

Also Italy. The FdI are far more anti-Russia/Atlanticist than Berlusconi or M5S. Indeed Meloni did an annoyingly good speech criticising a (I think M5S) deputy who was talking about peace that went sort of viral. It was good, but also, no....

Edit: Is there any party with that sort of softer attitude to Russia - maybe legacy Kekkonenism - or is that just gone from Finnish politics?

QuoteThe Finns are against all immigration and green energy, and want to leave the EU

One of these things is not like the others.
Nutty how that always happens.

I wonder how this is playing for the Swedes helping to prop up fascists who want to see them ethnically cleansed...
The Finns of course I expect see no issues with biding their time on that minority?

Quote from: Sheilbh on April 28, 2023, 04:35:50 AM

Quote from: Solmyr on April 28, 2023, 03:36:31 AMRather uniquely for most of Europe, the Finnish far-right nationalists are mostly anti-Russia (even though there've been some uncertainty), so there's that at least. :P

:lol:

Also Italy. The FdI are far more anti-Russia/Atlanticist than Berlusconi or M5S. Indeed Meloni did an annoyingly good speech criticising a (I think M5S) deputy who was talking about peace that went sort of viral. It was good, but also, no....

Edit: Is there any party with that sort of softer attitude to Russia - maybe legacy Kekkonenism - or is that just gone from Finnish politics?

Not really in mainstream politics anymore, and especially after the past year. :lol: There are some fringe putinist loonies, but none of them are in the parliament (Ano Turtiainen, the last guy in this poll, has been voted out). And some maybe try to "understand" Russian politics and viewpoints, but not really approving of them or anything.

Quote from: Josquius on April 28, 2023, 05:41:37 AM

QuoteThe Finns are against all immigration and green energy, and want to leave the EU

One of these things is not like the others.
Nutty how that always happens.

I wonder how this is playing for the Swedes helping to prop up fascists who want to see them ethnically cleansed...
The Finns of course I expect see no issues with biding their time on that minority?

Yeah, this has fuelled a big debate in their party, and according to a recent poll, the vast majority of their voters would have preferred participating in a more liberal government. On the other hand, the Swedes are known for being in every single government in Finnish history except one (2015-2019), usually agreeing to almost anything as long as Swedish language minority rights are protected.

One argument for including the Finns in the government now is that they are a party for protest voters, and now it's time for them to show their ability to govern. They have a problem with not enough skilled politicians (their presidential candidate is a creationist evolution denier and one of their EU parliament MPs is an alcoholic who basically doesn't know anything). But the argument goes that if they stay in the opposition now, their support will only grow because they'd be free to shout from the sidelines without any real responsibility.

Quote from: Solmyr on April 28, 2023, 03:36:31 AM

Quote from: Josquius on April 27, 2023, 08:42:14 AMPutin likes this?

Rather uniquely for most of Europe, the Finnish far-right nationalists are mostly anti-Russia (even though there've been some uncertainty), so there's that at least. :P

Countries near troublesome Russia have, for some reason, anti-Russian nationalists.  :P

:lol: That's very fair. I'm not aware of any pro-Russian party in Poland, for example.

Quote from: Duque de Bragança on April 28, 2023, 07:49:14 AM

Quote from: Solmyr on April 28, 2023, 03:36:31 AM

Quote from: Josquius on April 27, 2023, 08:42:14 AMPutin likes this?

Rather uniquely for most of Europe, the Finnish far-right nationalists are mostly anti-Russia (even though there've been some uncertainty), so there's that at least. :P

Countries near troublesome Russia have, for some reason, anti-Russian nationalists.  :P

Finns have historically been, well let's just say a bit suspicious of outsiders.  What makes these parties far right in the Finnish context?

Quote from: crazy canuck on April 28, 2023, 10:23:40 AMFinns have historically been, well let's just say a bit suspicious of outsiders.  What makes these parties far right in the Finnish context?

I think it was said they're against all immigration, against green policies, wanting to leave the EU, and consider the Swedish minority "not real Finns" and are against various protections (language rights, education, etc) for them?

Quote from: Jacob on April 28, 2023, 11:41:27 AM

Quote from: crazy canuck on April 28, 2023, 10:23:40 AMFinns have historically been, well let's just say a bit suspicious of outsiders.  What makes these parties far right in the Finnish context?

I think it was said they're against all immigration, against green policies, wanting to leave the EU, and consider the Swedish minority "not real Finns" and are against various protections (language rights, education, etc) for them?

That's about it. Also, their members somehow accidentally tend to end up in photos together with actual Nazis.

Oh, and the writings of the previous party leader, Jussi Halla-aho (who might become a minister now), inspired Anders Breivik. :ph34r:

Because the Languish pervs want to know, Sanna Marin is getting divorced.  :perv:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/10/finland-prime-minister-sanna-marin-files-for-divorce

That's an absolute shocker after those soft porn videos she did with some other guy.

Quote from: Threviel on May 10, 2023, 11:38:39 AMThat's an absolute shocker after those soft porn videos she did with some other guy.

Please elaborate.  :homestar:

Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 10, 2023, 11:54:08 AM

Quote from: Threviel on May 10, 2023, 11:38:39 AMThat's an absolute shocker after those soft porn videos she did with some other guy.

Please elaborate.  :homestar:

She was filmed dancing rather un-platonic with some guy.

There's some speculation that she might be polyamorous or otherwise in an open/non-monogamous relationship. She's been with the guy for 19 years, but they married only in 2020 when she became PM, and are now divorcing - so the marriage might have been simply to prevent her relationship being a subject of scrutiny. According to the statement, they are still good friends and plan to raise their child together.

Quote from: Solmyr on May 10, 2023, 10:50:31 AMBecause the Languish pervs want to know, Sanna Marin is getting divorced.  :perv:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/10/finland-prime-minister-sanna-marin-files-for-divorce

Unlike the US, you can become Prime Minister without being born in the country over here.

Just sayin'.

...

Actually we can't become Prime Minister at all in the US regardless of where you were born.

Quote from: Valmy on May 10, 2023, 03:34:33 PMActually we can't become Prime Minister at all in the US regardless of where you were born.

:P

Quote from: Valmy on May 10, 2023, 03:34:33 PMActually we can't become Prime Minister at all in the US regardless of where you were born.

You can be a Prime Minister IN the US, just not one OF the US.

Prime Minister of Langiush.

In Finland, after having a female-led left-wing government, we elect a bunch of racists and Nazi sympathizers. https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/20/racism-and-rape-fantasies-the-pr-headache-facing-finlands-new-right-wing-government

QuoteThe incoming economy minister has addressed a rally organised by neo-Nazis, while the Speaker of Parliament has a decades-long track record of race-related court convictions and deeply disturbing blog postings.

As Finland's new coalition government is sworn into office on Tuesday, incoming Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is facing a public relations headache over the Speaker of Parliament and the Minister for Economic Affairs, both positions filled by the far-right Finns Party.

Hot damn, you guys are worse than us now. :cry:  :bleeding:

So, the last two weeks in Finnish politics:

1. Government of National Coalition, The Finns, Christian Democrats and Swedish Party barely managed to iron out a government program that everyone could accept.
2. One of The Finns' ministers, Vilhelm Junnila, got called out for his apparent connections with Neo-Nazis over the last several years, including holding a speech at a Nazi-organized event, posting pictures of swastikas on his social media, and posting a picture of a snowman shaped in the form of a KKK member. Foreign media, including German and Israeli, pick up on this.
3. Vote of confidence for Junnila just barely succeeds, but the Swedes vote against him - voting against a minister of another party within your own government is unprecedented. While most of the National Coalition MPs vote for Junnila, the only Jewish MP does not vote despite being present.
4. Even more Nazi shit that Junnila has done comes up. A few days later he "voluntarily" resigns, leaving everyone who supported him with egg on their faces.
5. The Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen (The Finns) gets called out for posting a bunch of racist crap, including about the Great Replacement conspiracy theory and hoping that Finns "stay blue-eyed".
6. The Minister for Foreign Trade Ville Tavio (you guessed it, The Finns) gets called out for posting last year that EU leader Ursula von der Leyen is a "servant of the globalists" and should be "tarred and feathered".
7. Today, The Finns selected a replacement for Vilhelm Junnila - Wille Rydman, who last year was accused by multiple women for trying to groom them while they were underage.
8. Meanwhile in all of this, PM Petteri Orpo is desperately trying to avoid commenting on all this stuff going on with his government partner party.

So how is the summer political situation in your countries? :P

Voting for nazis is a bad idea. Who'd have thought it.

Not as bad as trying to form a government with Nazis while trying to pretend you don't know anything about that.

FPÖ is leading in the polls in Austria. Christian Conservatives (who are leaning more and more towards Republicans in US - high ranking members of CSU recently met cordially with Ron DeSantis) and AfD lead the polls in Germany.

So .... yeah.

Quote from: Syt on July 06, 2023, 12:12:40 AMFPÖ is leading in the polls in Austria. Christian Conservatives (who are leaning more and more towards Republicans in US - high ranking members of CSU recently met cordially with Ron DeSantis) and AfD lead the polls in Germany.

So .... yeah.

Although I think as European politicians dependent on American security you just kind of have to meet cordially with any American politician who visits, especially if they're running for President. Senators and Governors normally get a friendly reception. We're not America so even if their domestic politics is panic-inducing I'm not sure there's much we can do - and (I remember the Guardian letter writing campaign over Iraq), I suspect it may be counter-productive). Although I wouldn't give them a big reception or get them meeting the PM etc until they're actually their party's nominee.

We'll soon see with Spain and Vox too. I think the barriers between the centre right and radical or far right is now blurred across Europe, and that's happening at an increasing pace - I think Germany and the AfD are maybe the exception there as I believe there's still a strong sense that they're not an acceptable partner for the CDU.

At a European level there's also the EPP vote against the European nature restoration law - with the backing of the various radical and far right groups. On the one hand counter I actually think that's possibly a good thing - but I think it also reflects that blurring and, on a European level, there's lots of rumours of Meloni and her group wanting to form a coalition with the EPP (and based on Italy the plan would clearly then be to help take over the right).

Are the balls of light going out all over Europe?  Will we see them lit again in our life-time?  :(

Quote from: Tonitrus on July 06, 2023, 08:57:44 PMAre the balls of light going out all over Europe?  Will we see them lit again in our life-time?  :(

Good one.  :)

And it continues:

QuoteFinnish far-right finance minister accused of racist online comments
Riikka Purra says she will not resign after being linked to racial slurs and threats of violence made in 2008
Jon Henley Europe editor
@jonhenley
Tue 11 Jul 2023 15.01 BST

Finland's new rightwing government has been plunged into fresh controversy after the discovery of racist and sometimes violent blogpost comments apparently written by the far-right Finns party leader and finance minister, Riikka Purra.

Purra, whose nationalist, anti-immigration party finished second in April's elections and holds nine cabinet posts, has neither confirmed nor denied writing the posts, which date mostly to 2008, and said she had no intention of resigning – although on Tuesday she issued a broad apology for "stupid social media comments".

The comments, made under the username "riikka" on the blog of Purra's predecessor as Finns party leader, Jussi Halla-aho, included uses of the Finnish equivalent of the N-word, other racial and anti-immigrant slurs, and threats of violence.

Last month, another Finns party minister, Vilhelm Junnila, resigned after revelations that he had made jokes about "Heil Hitler", given a speech at an event attended by neo-Nazis and called for mass abortions in Africa to combat the climate crisis.

A third, Mari Rantanen, the interior minister – who is in charge of Finland's intelligence services – has had to deny that she believed in the extremist great replacement theory after it emerged that she had hashtagged it in several tweets.

One 2008 "riikka" comment talked of "[N-words] selling pirated Vuittons" in Barcelona, which Purra, then a researcher at the University of Turku, was visiting at the time for an academic conference.

Another described "the sound darker males make when they pass you by" as "not whistling (that would be too obvious) but a fucking hiss between the teeth", adding: "The more eager Abdullah is, the more saliva comes with it."

In another post, the commenter wrote: "Anyone feel like spitting on beggars and beating [N-word] children today in Helsinki?"A post in January 2008 read: "I'm so full of hate and pure rage ... What are you doing to my psyche, Islam?"

In September 2008, "riikka" wrote about a confrontation on a suburban train with a group of young immigrants: "If they gave me a gun, there'd be bodies on a commuter train, you'll see."

Finnish media have matched Purra's movements and biographical details to the posts. The Finns leader has acknowledged commenting on the blog hosted by Halla-aho – who was convicted in 2012 of inciting hatred against an ethnic group – and other forums under different usernames, but has not confirmed she was "riikka".

After saying on Monday she condemned violence but had no regrets about "expressing myself in ways that today I would not accept", on Tuesday Purra tweeted: "I apologise for stupid social media comments made 15 years ago and for the harm and resentment they they understandably caused. I'm not a perfect person, I've made mistakes."

She said she hoped she would be judged on her performance in office, adding that her party's policies were "not based on extremism, racism or discrimination, but on pursuing the interests of Finland and Finns. Our immigration policy is legitimate and legal and there is nothing wrong or suspicious about it."

Opposition and some coalition politicians have been quick to condemn the posts, attributing them to Purra. The former interior minister Maria Ohisalo said Purra "has not only racist but also violent content on the same platform. No regrets, no resignation."

The prime minister, Petteri Orpo, of the rightwing National Coalition party (NCP), tweeted on Tuesday that Purra had found "the right solution" and that the month-old government "will not fall here".

Speaking at a Nato summit, President Sauli Niinistö said immigration and racism were separate issues. "The Finnish government would be wise to have a clear zero tolerance for racism," he said. "If the government is able to take this on board, it would be a good signal to the world."

Separately on Tuesday, a photo emerged of a senior MP from the opposition Social Democratic party with a group of naked youths, some making a Nazi salute. Antti Lindtman said he regretted the incident, adding that the photo was from high school, he had not personally made the gesture and he had never been a Nazi sympathiser.

Yeah, that one has been ongoing. And those are not the only hateful writings, there are more from more recent times. Our Foreign Minister has had to apologize to her Turkish counterpart for Purra calling them "Turkish apes". Great start for Finland's international reputation so far. The opposition is calling for a vote of confidence, but the Speaker Jussi Halla-aho is refusing to call the Parliament from its summer break. And PM Orpo is desperately trying to act like everything is fine, since he knows his government will fall if he provokes the Finns any more.

You went from the world's coolest leader to this   :(

Is it too late to change our mind on nato admission?