Nationalist True Finns make gains in Finland vote

[Gerald]

Timo Soini: "We are not extremists, so you can sleep safely"

A nationalist party has taken nearly a fifth of votes in Finland's general election, the electoral commission says.

The True Finns finished just behind the conservative NCP and the Social Democrats on around 19%.

While the Social Democrats have called for changes on EU bail-outs, including the planned Portuguese rescue, True Finns opposes the plans altogether.

A hostile Finnish government could theoretically veto the package.

Unlike other eurozone countries, Finland's parliament can vote on whether to approve the measures.

Correspondents say the increased sway of Euro-sceptics in Finland's parliament could hold up any further bail-out deals.

As the biggest party, the NCP is tipped to lead the next government with former Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen likely to become prime minister of whatever coalition emerges, replacing Mari Kiviniemi of the Centre Party.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13107620

Note: 18 April 2011 Last updated at 02:49 GMT

[Hottentot]

I was half expecting some of us to beat Vendor to it, but I guess we are just not eager to let everyone know about us. Or then we are all still too drunk, either from partying or drowning our sorrow due to yesterday.

Interesting times ahead, that's all I'm saying for now. These elections gathered quite a lot of attention and for better or worse, this result is what we are going to live with for the next few years. I'm eager to see how much the "old parties" are willing to listen to the message that apparently many wanted to send them by voting the True Finns and how much of that message will actually become reality now that the elections (read: nationwide BS marathon) are over.

[Skybird]

I read the other parties already changed towards the more conservative/right side of political views in an attempt to reduce the anticipated gains of True Fins. And maybe this effect stays there even if the TF do not get a place inside a Finnish coalition.

Anyway, I welcome any Finnish government and /or parliament that blocks the EU insanity over Euro policy and bailouts. In Germany it has become common practice that in an act of violating the German constitution the parliament just waves through what Brussel demands, mistaken this with "solidarity with Europe" and "responsibility". Almost 85% of the laws created in Germany, get created this way: BNrussel demands, and the parliament just waves it through.

This is not what Germans have voted the emmebers of German Bundestag for. On the other hand, Germans do not care for this abusing distortion of the system, so: maybe they do not deserve it any better.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

I was half expecting some of us to beat Vendor to it, but I guess we are just not eager to let everyone know about us. Or then we are all still too drunk, either from partying or drowning our sorrow due to yesterday.

Interesting times ahead, that's all I'm saying for now. These elections gathered quite a lot of attention and for better or worse, this result is what we are going to live with for the next few years. I'm eager to see how much the "old parties" are willing to listen to the message that apparently many wanted to send them by voting the True Finns and how much of that message will actually become reality now that the elections (read: nationwide BS marathon) are over.

Well,well...I have not forgotten our brother country

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I read the other parties already changed towards the more conservative/right side of political views in an attempt to reduce the anticipated gains of True Fins. And maybe this effect stays there even if the TF do not get a place inside a Finnish coalition.

That could be right. So far the True Finns have been in opposition and they have had it relatively easy. They have done exactly what they should have done: made a lot of noise, pointed out things that don't work and subtly reminded that if they were in the government...

Well now they most likely will be. And this is where I think it gets interesting. They either have to back off or take responsibility for everything they have said in the past. Neither is going to be easy. Months ago I joked with a friend that True Finns are our Obama. They have promised a lot (or at the very least created lots of expectations) and gained almost cult-like following. Their big slogan was "change" and as I followed the discussion, it seemed that to some voters it was enough, as anything would be better than the current system. They represent things that are opposite to the things people don't like at the moment. So in a way we are now in similar situation as our American friends were when Obama was elected. Fascinating to see if the magic will work this time.

Either way, I welcome them for the effect they have made. I disagree with them on many issues and agree on some. I didn't finally vote them after reading their program (yes, all 68 pages of it) and seeing we are just not on the same page on the issues I consider most important. But I still appreciate the discussion they have created and the storm they have stirred. Politics is not supposed to be static, it's not supposed to be the same faces and same parties getting elected in year after year. The True Finns have managed to shake the system and hats off to them for that. I didn't doubt they would get many votes: what I do not know is how long they will stay on the top. I still remember when we got the last government and people were extatic. Just in few years they were declared the worst bunch of liars and losers ever. People have short memory.

[Happy Times]

The foreign media is getting crazy, this is one of the best.

The True Finns' manifesto indicates they have much in common with right-wing populist parties elsewhere in Europe.

They believe that a low birth rate is not solved by immigration, as that results in problems and foreigners do not fit into Finnish culture. Instead, young women should study less and spend more time giving birth to pure Finnish children. That is like a faint echo of Nazi ideology.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13091920

If you believe in nation states and want to support growing the low birth rates you are Nazi.

Have to mention that the party head Soini was the only party leader in the debates that declared that "I am a friend of Israel that is surrounded by enemies and im not ashamed to say it openly."

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Happy Times

The foreign media is getting crazy, this is one of the best.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13091920

If you believe in nation states and want to support growing the low birth rates you are Nazi.

Have to mention that the party head Soini was the only party leader in the debates that declared that "I am a friend of Israel that is surrounded by enemies and im not ashamed to say it openly."

WTF,Three days old thread

[gimpy117]

hurray for reactionary politics!!

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by Happy Times

If you believe in nation states and want to support growing the low birth rates you are Nazi.

Of course you are! And a racist if you say that dodgy family unifications should be examined more carefully. Didn't you get the memo? Not to mention that their manifesto doesn't say that. Or if it does, I want a direct quote.

Edited to add: I think I found it. Page 23 says (loosely translated): "At the moment in our country the birth rate per woman is 1,8 children. Meanwhile majority of those in the most fertile age studies, living with the low student allowance and thus is by Finnish standards poor and works to fund the studies. It is interesting, that the solution given to Finland's aging population is mostly immigration. The society should guarantee such circumstances, that more young Finns would be able to found a family and get children."

So uh...young women should study less? Breed pure Finns? WTF BBC?

[Happy Times]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Of course you are! And a racist if you say that dodgy family unifications should be examined more carefully. Didn't you get the memo? Not to mention that their manifesto doesn't say that. Or if it does, I want a direct quote.

Edited to add: I think I found it. Page 23 says (loosely translated): "At the moment in our country the birth rate per woman is 1,8 children. Meanwhile majority of those in the most fertile age studies, living with the low student allowance and thus is by Finnish standards poor and works to fund the studies. It is interesting, that the solution given to Finland's aging population is mostly immigration. The society should guarantee such circumstances, that more young Finns would be able to found a family and get children."

So uh...young women should study less? Breed pure Finns? WTF BBC?

The same lefties are in the BBC as in our national broadcaster, they probably had some wine together and planned what to write.

[nikimcbee]

What about the Ferret Party?

[Gerald]

[nikimcbee]

If I was in the ferret Party, I'd push for

Elinympäristö


and move to annex Norway, they seem like pushovers.