The leader of the Sweden Democrats, Jimmie Åkesson, recently visited Finland to hold a joint press conference with the True Finns’ party chairman, Riikka Purra. This was Åkesson’s first visit to Finland, highlighting how the True Finns’ outward image is changing from populism rooted in Finnish countryside to a modern right-wing nationalist party. Despite being a relative newcomer and having different characteristics than expected from a True Finns party leader, Purra strongly opposes immigration and believes in following Denmark’s migration policy. The True Finns are currently trying to appeal to bourgeois voters, criticizing the social democratic government’s handling of Finland’s state finances. However, their opposition to immigration may harm their chances of forming a government with the Unity Party, which recognizes the need for foreign labor. While right-wing and left-wing parties leading Finland together ensure majority governments and easier decision-making, a broad government can lead to political work coming to a standstill. Voter turnout in Finland is typically lower than in Sweden. Prime Minister Sanna Marin has said that she cannot imagine forming a government with the True Finns because of their differences in values. Nevertheless, right-wing populist parties are becoming more prevalent in European governments. The Finnish parliamentary elections take place on April 2, with three parties polling around 20 percent.
Sweden Democrats’ party leader Jimmie Åkesson visited Finland last week for a joint press conference with Sannfinländar’s party chairman Riikka Purra. It was the first time Åkesson visited Finland at all, and it says something about how the True Finns are changing their outward image: from popular populists with roots in the Finnish countryside to a modern European right-wing nationalist party.
Because of the image changes, Sannfinländarna’s relatively new chairman Riikka Purra, even though the right-hand side of the steering is starting a row with the party’s former chairman Jussi Halla-aho.
Purra is not the most expected party chairman of the True Finns. She is a woman, while the majority of the party’s voters and politicians are men. She is also a vegetarian in a party that not infrequently comes to the defense of Finnish meat eaters. She joined the party as a campaign worker and became chairman two years ago.
Photo: Alexander Mahmoud
Purra is strongly critical of immigration and thinks that Finland should follow Denmark in its migration policy. She has also said that she does not want to sit in a government that is not prepared to sharply reduce immigration.
Therefore, the True Finns are now trying to appeal to the bourgeois voters, by strongly criticizing the way the social democratic government led by Sanna Marin managed Finland’s state finances.
Göran Djupsund, who is a professor of political science at Åbo Akademi, says that the rhetoric of the True Finns is moving more and more to the right.
– They have moved to the right if you compare with party leader Timo Soini’s time. He was almost like an old chap when it came to socio-economic issues. It is interesting because the True Finns still have a large group of voters who depend on societal support. If they form a government with the Collection Party, which wants to save six billion euros in the coming government term, they will have to pay a high price in the next election, says Djupsund.
The three parties that are the largest i Finland right now is the Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Samlingspartiet – led by Petteri Orpo – and Sannfinländarna with Riikka Purra i spetsen. Alla tre partier ligger och skvalpar kring 20 procent i opinionesonsdökningar. Att alla tre siktar på primeministerposten är välte i de Pågände valdebatterna. Också Riikka Purra Säger sig vara beredd att leda regeringen. Sannfinländarna sat i regeringen senast 2015.
Photo: Roni Rekomaa/AP
– There may be protracted government negotiations. The Coalition Party has been in opposition for four years and certainly does not want to do so for another four years. Then the solution could be a blue-red government where the Social Democrats compromise with the right, says Göran Djupsund.
The true Finns’ criticism of immigration may be in their hands, he believes.
– Finland has an urgent need for foreign labor and I find it hard to believe that the Unity Party will be able to accept the True Finns’ line on that issue.
In contrast to Sweden Finland has often had right-wing and left-wing parties leading the country together. It is a way to guarantee majority governments and easier decision-making.
But a government that is too broad can also lead to political work coming to a standstill, says Ann-Catherine Jungar, who is associate professor at Södertörn University in Stockholm.
– This means that you have to compromise more. Voters may get the feeling that all parties are the same and that therefore it does not matter how you vote. Finland’s voter turnout is also usually lower than in Sweden, she says.
Photo: Jussi Nukari/AP
Finland’s current Prime Minister Sanna Marin has said in election debates that she cannot imagine forming a government with the True Finns because the party’s values are so different compared to her own party. The true Finns’ Riikka Purra is, among other things, strongly critical of the ambitious climate policy pursued by the current government. She is also prepared to cut into culture, which she considers to be a “luxury product”.
But it is unlikely that the True Finns will be categorically excluded from the government, as in Sweden.
– Right-wing populist parties are part of governments throughout Europe today, except in Belgium and Sweden, says Ann-Catherine Jungar.
When Jimmie Åkesson visited Helsinki last week, he said that Finland should see Sweden as a “deterrent example”.
– I get a little worried when I listen to the Finnish election campaign, not least the Finnish government’s rhetoric and politics. Finland is also heading in the wrong direction. And that’s why the True Finns are needed, said Åkesson according to Yle.