Staff Writer
Following criticism from his cabinet colleagues, the leader of the Finns Party, a coalition partner in the Finnish government, apologized on Tuesday for previous racist remarks made online.
Riikka Purra, the finance minister who later rose to lead the far-right Finns Party, was accused of writing offensive remarks in 2008 that included a variety of anti-immigrant, anti-Islamic, and racist slurs as well as threats of violence.
“I sincerely regret the hurt and uproar my foolish remarks from 15 years ago have caused. Purra said on Twitter that she is not a flawless person.
Two weeks ago, a different Finns Party minister resigned due to comments that were pro-Nazi.
“Such writings are unacceptable from anyone, regardless of party affiliation,” said Anders Adlercreutz, the Swedish minister for European affairs.
However, in a blog post on Monday, Purra stated that “it would not occur to me to start denouncing or apologizing for what I did and said years and decades ago.” Purra did not immediately confirm or refute the charges.
In a later tweet, she continued, “I used to feel very frustrated and hopeless about certain aspects of immigration in Finland.”
Then, she warned, “you might say or write rudely and foolishly.”
Null tolerance
The contentious remarks were published on a blog owned by her predecessor Jussi Halla-aho, whose contentious writings led to his conviction for inciting racial hatred, using the username “riikka.”
On Monday, social media users pointed out similarities between blog author “riikka” and Riikka Purra’s personal life, such as overlapping trips to Barcelona, comparable educational backgrounds, and claims of vegetarianism.
Tuesday’s statement from President Sauli Niinisto was that “it would be wise for the Finnish government to take a clear stance of zero tolerance on racism.”
Vilhelm Junnila, a different minister from the Finns Party, was compelled to quit in June as a result of several pro-Nazi comments.
Because “H” is the eighth letter in the alphabet, Junnila had made fun of the election of candidate 88 during this year’s parliamentary elections by saying that it was a reference to “Heil Hitler.”
