Keskisarja - Dangerous race doctor or a minor MP

Finns Party MP and party vice-chair Teemu Keskisarja spoke a couple of days ago on A-studio in his typical manner, using racist and offensive language, while basing his claims either on false information or on nothing at all. Keskisarja talked, among other things, about "low-quality newcomers," claimed that "for every surgeon there are a hundred stabbers," and presented the so-called Great Replacement theory as fact. The recording can be watched on Yle Areena.

In reality, Keskisarja revealed nothing new about himself.

He has previously spoken about population replacement, inferior people, and, for example, described Turku and the people of Turku as developmentally disabled. He has also claimed that students cannot have problems making ends meet because of things like fake nails or perfumes. According to him, all students are spoiled brats and "vegan wimps" – a statement that even the few Finns Party students probably agree with. Last Independence Day, Keskisarja also took part in the far-right 6/12 march.

The difference, however, between Keskisarja's latest ramblings on A-studio and his earlier ones is that now his ideas and conspiracy theories have elevated him into the leadership of a governing party. Nor is Keskisarja significantly more radical than chairperson Purra, who, during the party's slump in support, drives her populist rhetoric as far down as Speaker of Parliament Halla-aho once did in his early blog posts. Purra still speaks daily about how Finns and Finnish culture are threatened by population replacement, even though in reality it is the current government's policies that threaten us.

Keskisarja, who opened up a bit about the theoretical basis of his thinking on A-studio, has one answer for each of his racist outbursts. He repeatedly and often declares that he is a Christian for whom love of one's neighbour is important. He also claims to speak, for example, in favour of peace. Based on his politics and statements, however, one is tempted to ask about his understanding of love or compassion, since none of his words or deeds have shown them. One might also ask what he aims to achieve with his political bluster, as no real agenda can be discerned behind his hostility.

Then again, as I said at the beginning, there is nothing new in these speeches. That is why I am baffled by the ability of the prime minister's party, the National Coalition, to refrain from addressing the confusion, racism, and constant misanthropy coming from its government partner. The prime minister has on several occasions explained that the current government coalition is the only one capable of turning around Finland's debt problem and improving employment. If that is the case, then may someone help us, because the debt problem has in fact worsened, unemployment is still rising, and living conditions are once again being "improved" only by further and further cuts.

Returning to Keskisarja's comments as a governing party's vice-chair, I truly hope that these outbursts will not once again be brushed aside with a shrug or a wish that they simply go away. The prime minister should finally try to put an end to the openly racist, misanthropic, and misinformation-spreading speech of her government partners before words turn into open violence.

Keskisarja is no longer just a harmless MP, but a member of the government elite – at least by his position.

I fear, however, that in government Keskisarja will be left alone, so that the National Coalition and its partners can proceed with cutting from those who can least afford it – students, single parents, small pensions, and healthcare. Fortunately, the next parliamentary elections are already approaching.