The new Economic Affairs Minister and nationalistic Finns Party MP Vilhelm Junnila can continue in the government after surviving a no-confidence vote by a relatively narrow margin of 95 in favour and 86 against, which is a poor start for the new government.
Demanding his resignation were the Left Alliance, the Greens and the Social Democratic party in the opposition. Junnila has repeatedly flirted with far-right and even Nazi ideologies by appearing and giving speeches at events and making jokes about his election number of 88, a reference to ”Heil Hitler”. According to the opposition, a person with such a reputation cannot represent the country and be responsible for trade relations.
Even if Junnila survived the vote on Wednesday, this showed a poor start for the new government and may have wider and long-term repercussions. Significantly, none of the ten MPs of the Swedish People’s Party in the government supported Junnila. Three abstained and seven voted against him.
Consequently, the opposition was quick to call the government fragile by default.
Later, in a press conference, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) said he had had a ”serious conversation” with Junnila. According to the prime minister, Junnila regretted his actions and writings and denounced all affiliations to far-right groups. ”A marriage of convenience”, the current government, therefore continues, but with an ugly stain.
(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)
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