There are a number of worrying signs that Finland’s democracy and social welfare state are under threat. The threat does not come from abroad but from inside Finland thanks to the Finns Party (PS)* and National Coalition Party (Kokoomus).
Apart from disenfranchising migrants with strict laws that will make life harder for the country’s most vulnerable groups, Petteri Orpo’s government plans to weaken labor laws like the right to strike, and even the PS has been accused recently of trying to censor the media.
Lauri Nurmi wrote “The Unofficial Biography of Jussi Halla-aho in 2020. He claims in an Iltalehti editorial that the PS has made a dangerous move by trying to censor the media. Source: Iltalehti
Nurmi writes: “The [PS congress] invitation to the media ends with a special request: ‘We appeal to all the editors to please leave the archaeological political hacking in your offices coat racks and focus on the decisions made at our congress and political policies.’
The Perussuomalaiset [party] is trying to censor the media and limit what questions they can ask [at the congress]. The invitation from the PS could be seen as obstructive. The demand by it is unprecedented and dangerous in Finnish political journalism, but the reason for making [such a request] is obvious.”
It’s clear that the party is not happy with the scandals originating from racist and far-right posts by ministers like Riikka Purra, Wille Rydman and Vilhelm Junnila, who was forced to resign. Instead of blaming themselves, they place the blame on the media.
Moreover, the government plans to weaken worker rights and unions and take away basic health care from undocumented pregnant women and their children.
Inhumane would be a too weak word to describe the new government’s policies.
What kind of country will Finland look like if the government succeeds at its aims?
It will probably look like one that has abandoned its good senses and its most cherished values, which are based on a society built on unity and social equality.
