Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) spoke to media at the launch event of a government-led campaign to combat racism in Helsinki on Tuesday, 27 August 2024. Orpo admitted to YLE on Wednesday that the campaign did not get off to a good start. (Kimmo Penttinen – Str / Lehtikuva)
- Next Article Finnish government launches anti-racism campaign, drawing criticism and exposing old divisions
PRIME MINISTER Petteri Orpo (NCP) has welcomed Minister of Finance Riikka Purra’s (PS) clarification about the Finns Party’s position on government efforts to weed out racism.
Purra on Tuesday stated at the populist right-wing party’s summer meeting that the party as a whole would not be taking part in a government-led anti-racism campaign called We Speak with Actions. A day later she clarified on social media that the party is committed to the government report and action plan to combat racism.
Orpo said on YLE A-studio on Wednesday that he is pleased with the clarification.
“This didn’t get off to a good start, but this clarification was really important,” he said on the public affairs show.
The premier also expressed his disapproval of remarks made by Jani Mäkelä, the chairperson of the Finns Party Parliamentary Group. Mäkelä criticised the anti-racism campaign in an earlier interview with the public broadcasting company, claiming that it was an attempt to tackle a problem the existence of which was disputable.
“I didn’t appreciate this comment,” stated Orpo. “It’s absolutely clear that there’s discrimination in Finland. This country mustn’t have racism, and we have to work to make sure of that.”
Mäkelä questioned the need for the campaign also last week, implying that it was a meaningless publicity stunt undertaken in response to an unwarranted organised effort – which, in his telling, was possibly led from abroad – to topple the government over the racist statements, online posts and actions of members of the Finns Party.
The coalition crisis set off by reports about the statements prompted the government to present a report to parliament and draft an action plan to combat racism and discrimination.
Orpo on Wednesday also reminded that the newly launched anti-racism campaign was aimed initially not at political parties, but at organisations, work communities and sports clubs. Interest in the campaign has been modest, with only 18 organisations committing to it by last Thursday.
The Finns Party’s non-participation is not the only factor undermining the campaign, Helsingin Sanomat wrote on Tuesday.
Anna Rastas, a university teacher at Tampere University, reminded in an interview with the newspaper that anti-racism campaigns must be well funded and have the confidence of the public to have the desired impact. Finns, she added, are well aware of the real reason for launching the campaign: the racism controversy witnessed in mid-2023.
“You can’t say the campaign is intended to only embellish the government’s reputation. It’s definitely possible that someone in the government is sincerely interested in combating racism. At the same time, you have to remember that the backdrop of the [campaign] is known to everyone,” she said.
“The campaign is the least the government can do. Of course it’d be even more unfortunate if the campaign hadn’t been launched.”
Both Rastas and Tuuli Kurki, a researcher at the University of Helsinki, also drew attention to the disconnect between the goals of the campaign, including tackling systemic racism, and the policy decisions taken by the government.
Rastas viewed that the campaign is simply under-re
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
