PM sees Purra´s apology as right solution to avoid govt´s collapse

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Tuesday termed that the apology offered by Finance Minister and Chairperson of the radical rightist Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) Riikka Purra was the right solution.

The Premier in a twitter post also said that the government would not fall at this stage and would be able to implement its programmes.

“Thanks to my colleague Riika for the right solution. The government will not fall here. I hope that the government will be able to implement its program and that the actions and values of the ministers and the government will be evaluated through actions,” Orpo wrote in this twitter in Finnish.

Purra on Tuesday admitted that she made the controversial remarks on the Scripta blog 15 years ago in guise of a username "riikka" and apologised for the racial, apparently violent and anti-immigrant comments.

She offered the apology in her twitter post following reports published in several news media and strong criticism in the social media by people from different strata including political leaders.

Chairperson of conservative Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) Petteri Orpo-led four-party right-wing alliance government took office on June 20.

Three other components of the government are radical rightist Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), Suomenruotsalainenkansanpuolue (Swedish People’s Party of Finland-RKP) and SuomenKristillisdemokraatit (Christian Democrats of Finland-CD).

Earlier on June 30, another Perussuomalaiset leader and Minister of Economic Affairs Vilhelm Junnila decided to resign following the controversy raised over his links to far-right groups.

The four political parties announced its programme to reshape economy and tighten immigration laws.

The ruling parties also decided to cut more than four billion euros during its regime, which was strongly criticized by the opposition parties.