Allies decide not to run govt with Perussuomalaiset

The Suomen Keskusta) and the Kansallinen Kokoomus on Monday decided against continuing with the three-party ruling alliance with the other partner, the Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), led by its newly elected anti-immigrant and Euro-sceptic Chairman Jussi Halla-aho.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, who is the chairman of the Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party) and Finance Minister Petteri Orpo, the chief of the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) after a meeting.

Sipilä and Orpo in a joint Twitter post said there is no common ground for cooperation with the Perussuomalaiset under the leadership of its new Chairman Jussi Halla-aho.

The ruling alliance would no longer include the PS (Perussuomalaiset - Finns Party), said the leaders in their Twitter post. It read, “Discussions held. Our joint proposal to Keskusta and Kokoomus Parliamentary groups: no ground to continue cooperation with a Finns Party led by Halla-aho."

Earlier, on Saturday, the Perussuomalaiset elected Jussi Halla-aho, who is well known for his anti-immigrant views, the party chairman.

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 and 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.