SEVERAL influential members of the Finns Party have expressed their support for the demands of Jussi Halla-aho (PS) that the opposition party place greater emphasis on immigration in its electoral platform.

Party currently revising its electoral manifesto under the guidance of Jussi Halla-aho.

Halla-aho estimates that supporters of the Finns Party want "firmer policy-making that takes national interests into consideration" especially in major urban areas.

"That is what distinguishes us from other parties and is therefore an important theme," he explains.

According to Halla-aho the opposition party must be able to offer voters a genuine alternative in regards to immigration.

Hanna Mäntylä, the second deputy chairperson of the party, believes the criticism by Halla-aho to be justifiable. "Opposition to immigration is one of the most important issues and must be that also in the future. It must be taken seriously," she states.

The third deputy chairperson, Juho Eerola, promises that immigration will be one of the main talking points of his campaign. Although he does not subscribe to allegations that the Finns Party has swept the issue under the rug, he is not opposed to placing even greater emphasis on it.

“When in Rome” • The Finns Party states in its manifesto that immigrants who can support themselves financially are welcome to Finland. • Employment-based immigration that fails to comply with Finnish collective agreements and produces no tax revenue to Finland is unacceptable. • The principle of “When in Rome” applies not only to the legislation but also to culture. • “It is not racist to foster Finnish culture and maintain social order,” the manifesto states. • The Finns Party believes the native population has no obligation to adapt to the ways of immigrants or Finland to align its legislation with their country of origin. • Finland should according to the opposition party adopt an expedited deportation procedure to process and reject unfounded asylum applications within 24 hours and to carry out the deportation immediately.

Soini unfazed

Chairperson Timo Soini has refused to take the criticism personally, stressing that a social movement such as the Finns Party has room for a diversity of opinions. "Immigration is an important part of the party's agenda, but not the only one. I'm more drawn to EU policy," he reminds.

The consensus is that the party is not divided by the issue.

Instead, Soini prefers to speak of a difference of emphasis. "That's acceptable in a social movement. It's good that the party has a number of voices, so that everyone is heard."

"Representatives emphasise certain issues differently: to some [immigration] is not an important theme, to others it is," acknowledges Mäntylä. She reveals that her main interests lie within the Social Affairs and Health Committee.

Party secretary Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo, in turn, views that the parliamentary group has been somewhat unmindful of the manifesto adopted by the Finns Party for the 2011 parliamentary elections, especially in light of the fact that the issue has been among the three main talking points within the party government.

Many members of the party, she gauges, may be reluctant to address the issue due to "harsh stigmatisation".

The party should shape up in that respect, Slunga-Poutsalo says.

An economic problem

Soini has estimated that immigration is principally an economic problem as it puts a strain on public coffers.

Others, however, approach the issue from a different perspective. "It's an economic problem, but first and foremost it's a social problem," says Halla-aho, arguing that Finns are especially concerned about ghettoisation and the concentration of problems in certain areas.

Mäntylä similarly points out that immigration is also a social and societal question with possible ramifications even for social stability.

Eerola, in turn, estimates that immigration is primarily an economic issue because a considerable share of immigrants rely on means of income re-distribution for their livelihood. "On the other hand, it's also a problem that concerns internal security," he adds.

A new manifesto

The Finns Party is currently revising its electoral manifesto under the guidance of Halla-aho. In addition, members of the opposition party have called for an overhaul of the social security scheme. Eerola, for example, has proposed that the scheme be revised to deny social security benefits to people who have left Finland for war-ravaged regions.

Halla-aho has urged the Government to oppose the distribution of the burden of migration among member states of the European Union to avoid accepting further asylum seekers. He would also revise the national legislation to oblige immigrants to demonstrate their ability to secure their livelihood before applying for a residence permit on grounds of family ties.

Olli Pohjanpalo – HS

Aleksi Teivainen – HT

LEHTIKUVA / JUSSI NUKArI