I have made some previous updates about Finland’s new right-wing government, which includes a nationalist anti-immigration party, the Finns Party, as well as about the ongoing racism scandal after it turned out that some of the ministers from that party had a history of racist comments, having even played around with Nazi implications. Read
Btw., how do you understand the word "Holocaust" in this context? Is the possible ban targeted at denialism of the extermination of Jews by Nazis in during WW2, or does the word refer to mass murder of other groups as well, like roma, homosexuals, freemasons and POW's?
An on-point analysis regarding the reasons behind the proposal of the Holocaust denial law. One point to add to this is that such a law is feasible to implement. There was nothing really concrete in the 13-page document and, for anyone who follows Finnish politics, no bona fide desire to address racism from the participants (with perhaps the exception of the RKP party). A law to criminalise Holocaust denial was perfect because it is a clear action point and is easy to support because it is morally correct and, in Finland, would have wide support.
I am not actually sure it's easy to implement. We'll have to see what a constitutional review says - after all, previously governments have refused it on free speech grounds and on the grounds of not passing purposeless legislation already covered by other acts (see eg https://twitter.com/Stefferi/status/1697266900911493183)
You're right, there's no guarantee that it will pass constitutional review. We will find out, however, because as this is the one and only concrete proposal in the statement, the government will have to throw it into the legal process.
The Middle East question is indeed an ideological watershed in Finnish nationalist circles, with the Finns party on Israel's side. Just a detail to make the point: The Blue-black Movement, a breakaway faction from the Finns is openly antisemitic and pro-Palestine.
That's true, but they are very marginal and pretty open about their Nazi sympathies anyway. When local Nazis and Nazi sympathizers go on about Jews, it always seems very affected; not something coming from native discourses, but something picked up from international Nazi/alt-right circles that these types are connected to.
Btw., how do you understand the word "Holocaust" in this context? Is the possible ban targeted at denialism of the extermination of Jews by Nazis in during WW2, or does the word refer to mass murder of other groups as well, like roma, homosexuals, freemasons and POW's?
That depends on the government, no? I'd expect it to mainly target the mass killings of the Jews.
A bit disingenious of them, leaving the meaning open like that.
An on-point analysis regarding the reasons behind the proposal of the Holocaust denial law. One point to add to this is that such a law is feasible to implement. There was nothing really concrete in the 13-page document and, for anyone who follows Finnish politics, no bona fide desire to address racism from the participants (with perhaps the exception of the RKP party). A law to criminalise Holocaust denial was perfect because it is a clear action point and is easy to support because it is morally correct and, in Finland, would have wide support.
I am not actually sure it's easy to implement. We'll have to see what a constitutional review says - after all, previously governments have refused it on free speech grounds and on the grounds of not passing purposeless legislation already covered by other acts (see eg https://twitter.com/Stefferi/status/1697266900911493183)
You're right, there's no guarantee that it will pass constitutional review. We will find out, however, because as this is the one and only concrete proposal in the statement, the government will have to throw it into the legal process.
The Middle East question is indeed an ideological watershed in Finnish nationalist circles, with the Finns party on Israel's side. Just a detail to make the point: The Blue-black Movement, a breakaway faction from the Finns is openly antisemitic and pro-Palestine.
That's true, but they are very marginal and pretty open about their Nazi sympathies anyway. When local Nazis and Nazi sympathizers go on about Jews, it always seems very affected; not something coming from native discourses, but something picked up from international Nazi/alt-right circles that these types are connected to.