LA

It should be remembered that the party differs from other populist-right forces in its origins. Unlike, say, the Swedish Democrats and the Front National, it began as an agrarian party with migration playing a relatively minor role. Its rhetoric was much more traditional populism — the ordinary man against the elites, particularly against the EU. In the mid-2000s anti-immigrant, right-wing groups in Finland were looking to come together and saw the potential of the True Finns as a vehicle. The party that rose to prominence was founded on this mix of xenophobic, migration-focused politicians and an agrarian populist base. 2011 was their big breakthrough and research suggests a broad range of sentiments about change propelled them. They said they were outside of politics, with the regular people, rhetoric you can even find in more centrist figures like Macron in France. So it wasn’t some kind of pure anti-immigrant vote.

The leader of the True Finns at that time, Timo Soini, knew that this combination was working for them. He never really interfered with issues concerning xenophobia. He was quiet and allowed the more radical elements to define the immigration agenda of the party. This was a successful strategy and took them into government. But in power they supported measures which really impacted low-income earners. They also found, even though they managed to change Finland’s migration and asylum policies, that they didn’t appease their hardline anti-immigrant supporters. So they lost half their support in the polls during the first year of government.

Some people ask me, “Doesn’t this show that the way to defeat the populist right is to allow them into government?” But, unfortunately, they have caused a lot of damage. They have succeeded in polarizing Finnish society. Their anti-immigrant rhetoric has managed to turn widespread insecurity about the economy against immigrants. Then their policies in government have hurt a lot of people, particularly the marginalized. And in the end their split was caused by Jussi Halla-aho, a more radical right-wing figure, being elected as party leader. Now we have a party in government called Blue Reform that carries many of their policies and a hard-line True Finns in opposition, growing in the polls, pushing even more extreme ideas. Their story isn’t over yet.

But it is important that they showed their true colors when it comes to economic and social policy. In this respect, the True Finns is an example. From now on we can point to the True Finns and say we know what the populist right are really interested in. They don’t care about low-income earners; they have no problem cutting back social security; they have no problem cutting back social services or forcing unions to accept deals that cut wages. Finland provides evidence for all of this. But the split causes further issues. The party in government, Blue Reform, has no future. They have shown they are only interested in power. But the True Finns in opposition, without its more moderate elements, will show us what the true support level in Finland is for an overtly racist party. I think the other parties will reject cooperation with them now, but whether this works remains to be seen.