Minister faces motion of no-confidence over handling refugee quota

Interior Minister Mari Rantanen is facing a no-confidence motion in the parliament over the handling of refugee quota process where the minister reportedly instructed the ministry officials to prefer refugees from Christian-majority countries.

Opposition Vihreä liitto (Finnish Green League) submitted the motion on Friday after the ombudsman issued a report on Thursday accusing that the interior ministry had favoured asylum seekers from Christian-majority countries.

The ombudsman's report said that the targets of the Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) regarding immigration and Islamophobia affected policymaking.

Vihreä liitto lawmaker Saara Hyrkkö proposed the no-confidence motion against Interior Minister Rantanen, also a lawmaker of radical rightist Perussuomalaiset, which was supported by her party colleague Inka Hopsu and another opposition Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance) lawmaker Timo Furuholm.

The minister will respond to the interpellation in a plenary session within 15 days.

After receiving the reply to the interpellation, the Parliament will hold a debate on the issue and proceed to a no-confidence motion against the minister.

Earlier, the minister also faced a no-confidence motion in the parliament over the handling of refugee quota process in late 2024 but she survived the no-confidence motion.

The four-party alliance government led by Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) in November 2024 decided that Finland will receive 500 refugees under the refugee quota in 2025.