Finland’s new economic affairs minister and member of the nationalist Finns Party, Vilhelm Junnila, survived a confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday. MPs votes on the measure fell 95-86 with three abstentions and 15 absences. The confidence vote was called by three opposition parties, the Left Alliance, Green and Social Democratic parties, due to Junnila’s previous controversial statements and links to far-right groups. Seven Swedish People’s Party MPs voted against Junnila, with the other three abstaining. Three National Coalition MPs were absent for the vote, but the other government party MPs voted their confidence in the controversial politician. Junnila has joked about his election number (88) referencing ‘Heil Hitler’, campaigned at an election under the “gas” slogan and spoken at at least one event organised by a far-right group. The recently-appointed minister apologised last week for his comments and actions, following two days of media controversy about the matter. MPs also voted on the government programme, with 106 voting to support it, 78 voting against, and one abstention. 15 legislators were away for that vote.

Crosspost from c/europe

"Minister survives confidence vote after far-right scandal

Three opposition parties called for the vote over the Finns Party minister’s links to far-right groups and past statements.

Finland’s new economic affairs minister and member of the nationalist Finns Party, Vilhelm Junnila, survived a confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday.

MPs votes on the measure fell 95-86 with three abstentions and 15 absences.

The confidence vote was called by three opposition parties, the Left Alliance, Green and Social Democratic parties, due to Junnila’s previous controversial statements and links to far-right groups.

Seven Swedish People’s Party MPs voted against Junnila, with the other three abstaining. Three National Coalition MPs were absent for the vote, but the other government party MPs voted their confidence in the controversial politician.

Junnila has joked about his election number (88) referencing ‘Heil Hitler’, campaigned at an election under the “gas” slogan and spoken at at least one event organised by a far-right group.

The recently-appointed minister apologised last week for his comments and actions, following two days of media controversy about the matter.

MPs also voted on the government programme, with 106 voting to support it, 78 voting against, and one abstention. 15 legislators were away for that vote.’

  • @maporita@lemmy.ml
    33•1 year ago

    I was thinking it was just a right wing, anti-immigrant politician, not an actual Nazi. Then I went to check… holy hell.

    • QuentinCallaghan
      23•1 year ago

      If that wasn’t enough, Junnila also posed with a statue of Robert E. Lee when visiting USA.

      • Lols [they/them]
        7•1 year ago

        and had been for several years before nazism existed, because the swastika is not exclusively a nazi symbol

        for instance several chinese religions continue to use the swastika today, ditto for the nepal chamber of commerce, the ahmedabad stock exchange and other organisations

        • 133arc585
          2•1 year ago

          Small correction, those “swastikas” are oriented square, whereas the Nazi swastika is rotated 45 degrees.

          • Lols [they/them]
            3•1 year ago

            the finnish airforce, having adopted the symbol before and entirely separately from the nazis, did not use a 45° hakenkreuz either

            swastika is just what that style of cross is called

            • @vacuumflower@vlemmy.net
              2•1 year ago

              Not even necessarily a cross. Arevakhach and borjgali are also technically swastikas (one is literally called a cross, though, but it’s not).

        • ghost_laptop
          -2•1 year ago

          Swedish count Eric von Rosen gave the Finnish White government its second aircraft, a Thulin Typ D.[3] Von Rosen, later one of the founding members of the Nationalsocialistiska Blocket (“National Socialist Bloc”), a Swedish National Socialist political party, and brother-in-law to Hermann Goering,[4][5] had painted his personal good-luck charm on the Thulin Type D aircraft. This logo – a blue swastika, the ancient symbol of the sun and of good luck, which was back then still used with non-political connotations – gave rise to the insignia of the Finnish Air Force. The white circular background originated when the Finns painted over the advertisement from the Thulin air academy.[6] The swastika was officially taken into use after an order by Commander-in-Chief C. G. E. Mannerheim on 18 March 1918. The FAF changed its aircraft insignia, which resembled the swastika of the Third Reich, after 1944 due to an Allied Control Commission decree,[7] which prohibited fascist organizations.

          So it was used because of a fascist, banned because it was fascist, but it wasn’t fascist.

      • Skelectus
        -1•1 year ago

        Not quite the same as a current politician doing this. Are you implying that Finland was a nazi supporting state all this time?

        • Soviet Snake
          2•1 year ago

          Fascism is liberal democracy in decay. Do of the fact presented above as you wish.