At least 15,000 people marched lastTuesday through the streets of the Finnish capital, Helsinki, to express their support for “an open and multicultural Finland” in response to parliamentary controversial remarks of the extreme right.
Olli Immonen, a member of the Eurosceptic party and anti-immigration True Finns in power issued a post on the Facebook social network that has sparked an outcry in the country. He called in particular for a “strong and courageous nation” capable of overcoming the “nightmare of multiculturalism.”
Police said the event, held under the slogan “We Have a Dream” took place “in a calm atmosphere and experienced no overflow.”
Reacting to the controversy, the chairman Timo Soini of the True Finns found that Mr. Immonen “forgot to show solidarity with the parliamentary group he represents.”
The case, which will be addressed in the political comeback by the parliamentary group, has damaged the party’s image, added Mr. Soini, also foreign minister.
The majority of senior Finnish officials, including President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Juha Sipila, rejected the statements of the Eurosceptic MP called to put the debate on immigration on track.
Finland has 5.4 million inhabitants, of which only 3.5 per cent were born abroad (192.200), one of the lowest proportions in the European Union (EU).
