Crosspost from c/europe
"Minister survives confidence vote after far-right scandal
Three opposition parties called for the vote over the Finns Party minister's links to far-right groups and past statements.
Finland's new economic affairs minister and member of the nationalist Finns Party, Vilhelm Junnila, survived a confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday.
MPs votes on the measure fell 95-86 with three abstentions and 15 absences.
The confidence vote was called by three opposition parties, the Left Alliance, Green and Social Democratic parties, due to Junnila's previous controversial statements and links to far-right groups.
Seven Swedish People's Party MPs voted against Junnila, with the other three abstaining. Three National Coalition MPs were absent for the vote, but the other government party MPs voted their confidence in the controversial politician.
Junnila has joked about his election number (88) referencing 'Heil Hitler', campaigned at an election under the "gas" slogan and spoken at at least one event organised by a far-right group.
The recently-appointed minister apologised last week for his comments and actions, following two days of media controversy about the matter.
MPs also voted on the government programme, with 106 voting to support it, 78 voting against, and one abstention. 15 legislators were away for that vote.'
Wow, it almost sounds like forming a government with a far-right party might not be such a great idea after all.
Orpo said that zero tolerance for racism is stated in the government's programme, and yet the Finns Party is in the government coalition. The party that is "not racist, but #1 among racists". The whole government lineup feels like a forced marriage with no clear common values, all the parties being only held together through the power of an illusion. This government will not last long, mark my words.
Also what perplexes me is our media's role in this – or more accurately revelations about Junnila not originating from media investigation but from independent bloggers and social media users. Foreign media called our new government far-right, whereas our media just called it "right-wing" and walked on eggshells, especially regarding the Finns Party. After the revelations caught enough flak on social media when all the new ministers were appointed, only then media started paying attention. Our media could have investigated all this for several weeks. Junnila's resignation was mostly influenced by the pressure from civil society.
Therefore it's interesting to see whether our media is going to make news about Junnila and other Finns Party members, this time with more investigation, or do they consider their job done. Mari Rantanen gaining attention is hinting for the first option.