Halla-aho’s election makes govt unstable

Jussi Halla-aho, the newly elected chairman of Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), the second largest component of the three-party ruling alliance, vowed to run the party to nationalistic and Euro-sceptic direction, which deepened the uncertainty about existence of the government.

The Perussuomalaiset on Saturday elected Jussi Halla-aho, who is well known for his anti-immigrant views as the Chairman of the party.

Expressing his reaction, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, also chairman of the Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party), said the Perussuomalaiset is “no longer the same party that joined the coalition” in 2015.

Sipilä also said he would meet the newly-elected leader of the Perussuomalaiset on Monday.

Another coalition component, the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party), has said it would not be in the same cabinet with Halla-aho.

Party leader Petteri Orpo said on Saturday he would now consult the party executive.

With the election of Halla-aho, the chance of Timo Soini, the outgoing Perussuomalaiset chairman to continue as foreign minister has become uncertain, even if the coalition would survive.

Soini earlier said he would like to continue, but Halla-aho during his campaign said he did not like the idea.

Meanwhile, Halla-aho in a speech at the party council in Jyväskylä said the strong mandate he received from the party councillors is a clear indication of where the majority of the party members want the party to go, reported the national broadcaster Yle.

He also announced that he would turn the party into a more nationalistic, Euro-sceptic direction.

“It is fashionable to say poor people cannot be pitted against each other. It is fashionable to pretend that investments in so-called good things would not be at the disadvantage of anyone else. But it is precisely the poor who are pitted against each other and public spending is a zero-sum game,” the Yle report quoted Halla-aho as telling the party council.