Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has issued a formal, public apology to the people of Japan, China, and South Korea. This extraordinary diplomatic step was taken on Wednesday following a major controversy involving members of the populist Finns Party, who posted images making derogatory squinting gestures aimed at East Asian people.
MPs' Social Media Posts Spark Outrage
The incident that triggered the international row involved parliamentarians Kaisa Garedew and Juho Eerola, along with MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen. They shared pictures on social media where they were seen pulling back the corners of their eyes. This gesture is widely condemned across the globe as a racist stereotype targeting individuals of East Asian origin.
The posts were reportedly intended as a show of support for 2025 Miss Finland, Sarah Dzafce. She had lost her crown just last week after a similar picture from November surfaced. However, the MPs' actions were met with immediate and severe criticism, forcing the highest levels of the Finnish government to intervene.
Official Apology and Diplomatic Fallout
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo moved swiftly to contain the damage. "I sincerely apologise for the offensive social media posts made by individual MPs," Orpo stated in official communications disseminated through Finland's embassies in Tokyo, Beijing, and Seoul.
His office further clarified to the AFP news agency, "These actions do not reflect Finland’s commitment to equality and inclusion. Racism and discrimination have no place in our society." The government stressed that the conduct of the MPs "does not represent Finland’s official stance."
The repercussions extended beyond diplomacy. Finland's national broadcaster Yle reported that a television production company has temporarily halted joint projects in Japan. Furthermore, the flagship carrier Finnair stated that the incident had negatively impacted its brand image, highlighting the tangible commercial cost of the scandal.
Mixed Reactions and Potential Sanctions
The responses from the involved politicians have varied significantly. While MP Juho Eerola offered an apology, MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen defended the post, claiming no offensive intent was meant. Notably, MP Kaisa Garedew has refused to apologise altogether.
The Finns Party parliamentary group is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss possible sanctions against its members. This controversy is not an isolated event for the right-wing coalition government, which took office in 2023. In August, another Finns Party MP faced severe backlash for claiming immigrants were turning Finland into "a pigsty," indicating a pattern of inflammatory behaviour from within the party's ranks.
The incident underscores the swift and serious international consequences that can arise from racially insensitive actions by public figures, affecting a country's diplomatic relationships and economic collaborations.
