Prime Minister Petteri Orpo spoke to members of the media during the Nordic-Baltic Summit in Hapsund, Sweden, on 27 November 2024. Orpo on Monday told Helsingin Sanomat he considers the plans of two Finns Party members to skip the Independence Day reception and instead to attend a protest march with ties to far right groups as “inappropriate” and “wrong”. (Henrik Montgomery – AFP / Lehtikuva)
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THE PLANS of Teemu Keskisarja and Sheikki Laakso of the Finns Party to skip the Independence Day reception and attend the 612 protest march is “inappropriate” and “wrong,” according to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP).
Orpo on Monday indicated to Helsingin Sanomat that he has received information about the protest march from the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo).
“Far right and openly racist groups have advertised the 612 march to their members. It’s therefore likely that the march will be joined also by participants from the far right,” he wrote in a text message to the daily newspaper. “I consider all extremist movements dangerous and harmful for the stability of Finland.”
The protest march has been advertised by the likes of Sinimusta Liike, an openly fascist and racist political party with ties to the anti-immigrant street patrol Soldiers of Odin and dissolved neo-Nazi group Nordic Resistance Movement. Santeri Iltanen, a communication expert at Supo, said to Helsingin Sanomat that the march was created by far right and anti-immigrant organisations.
“Members of the far right have participated and will surely participate in the event also this year,” he said.
Orpo stated that while the prime minister does not decide how adults spend their time in a free democracy, everyone should use their discretion and refrain from using independence to gain publicity. The president inviting lawmakers to commemorate independence is also a precious tradition.
Laakso told Helsingin Sanomat yesterday evening that he has decided to cancel his participation in the march.
Anders Adlercreutz, the chairperson of the Swedish People’s Party, on Monday said ruling-party members participating in the 612 march is “completely unacceptable” and “inappropriate” given how strongly the event is affiliated with the far right.
Riikka Purra, the chairperson of the Finns Party, defended Keskisarja and Laakso last weekend by describing the protest march as a “nationalist and patriotic event”. Although the populist right-wing party does not tolerate far right activity, it allows its members to participate in the protest march because the event is “politically unaffiliated” and “open to everyone”.
“The participants are encouraged to respect the event’s nature by leaving all political and other emblems and slogans home,” she said.
Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho (PS) on Monday similarly questioned the backlash against the plans by arguing that there is only an “old and thin” link between the march and the Nordic Resistance Movement.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
