Mauri Peltokangas wrote about camels and flying worms – This is how he commented – 2024-09-16 22:01:29

Mauri Peltokangas, Member of Parliament for Fundamental Finns and chairman of the administrative committee, has sparked a heated debate with his Facebook update on Saturday.

In the update, the MP says that he was in a calm mood when he arrived in Ylivieska with his spouse.

– We drove with the lady to Kärkkäinen in Ylivieska again for garden shopping. I wondered why there is such a good and peaceful mind. I just realized that it’s because nothing has fundamentally changed here. The Mogadishu dialect is still barely heard and goatherding is still a rare profession in these latitudes, and at least during our visit we did not see a single camel or flying carpet in the park, Peltokangas wrote in his publication.

You can view the publication at this link.

Iltalehti reached out to Peltokanka to comment on his update. At the beginning of the publication, we wish you a good weekend.

Who is the weekend wish addressed to?

– After all, it states at the beginning that friends, Followers and haters. The message is intended for everyone. There’s nothing more to it than that, says Peltokangas.

Vantaa regional and city councilor Eva Tawasoli (green) commented on the publication as racist, what kind of thoughts does this evoke?

– This is interesting, if it is racism to state that there is no dialect somewhere. For example, if I say that there is no Närpiö dialect here in Alajärvi. If that’s racism, then it is. If I state that the profession of a goat herder is very rare, if it is racism, then I must say that I hope he will not rise from the level of a municipal councilor to a higher level in politics. I think his idea of ​​racism is as wrong as it gets.

Political freedom of speech allows provocation

The content of Peltokanka’s weekend request was similar to the updates published in May 2020 that were discussed in the District Court and the Vaasa Court of Appeal.

At that time, the Court of Appeal stated that political freedom of speech also allows a certain kind of exaggeration and provocation. Thus, Peltokangas did not slander or insult refugees or asylum seekers in the manner intended by the criminal law, according to the 2021 Court of Appeal decision.

The message did not have the same content as the 2020 publications, how does your message compare to previous ones?

– This is where the situation was updated. The updates I made then, which were discussed in two courts, have a different meaning. The situation has now been updated. Here it is said that the Mogadishu dialect is still hardly heard and goatherding is a rare profession. And we didn’t see a camel or a flying carpet during our visit. These are just facts.

– These words used have been tested in court, and there is nothing wrong with them.

Referring to the legal process, Peltokangas finds it strange why expressions that have already been found to be racist are brought up again.

– If someone claims that a person would be guilty of racism when using these terms. Then you have to think about whether it should be tested in court, because I think the charge of racism is quite strong.

– If someone calls me a racist, maybe it’s as serious a matter to investigate as any other.

Peltokangas says that he values ​​freedom of speech, and does not intend to take the matter further.

– Someone with a weaker nerve might sue for defamation a person who innocently and without reason accuses another person of being racist, says Peltokangas.

According to Peltokanka, camels or flying carpets are not related to any ethnic group.

What do you think of Petteri Orpo’s We speak with action campaign?

– From time to time in Finland such discussions are drawn into large spheres. Miracle campaigns are run on self-evident issues and people are forced to participate. I would then ask, when everyone has signed their name on the paper, what would happen? What would it really help? The paper would be forgotten after three weeks. It certainly won’t change anything in the world if politicians put their names on some paper.

Do I understand correctly that you see the campaign as image polishing?

– I do understand all the campaigns and I have nothing against them. There is a bit of that image polishing taste, yes.

Is the implementation of the campaign wrong or is there a need for other similar actions?

– I see much bigger problems in Finland than racism. If from time to time it is raised as the main problem, then I wonder. Of course I understand at the same time and it’s like polishing the shield and trying to fool some parties. That’s part of politics.

Peltokangas emphasizes that there is freedom of opinion in Finland.

Do you feel that freedom of speech is threatened in Finland?

– I don’t. I feel that freedom of speech is fine. Pettiness and self-indulgence have reared their heads strongly in this country.

Peltokangas sees that in general discussion, terminology, especially regarding immigrants and asylum seekers, tend to get mixed up.

According to the competence center for integration under the Ministry of Labor and the Economy, an immigrant is a person born abroad who is not a Finnish citizen, but lives in Finland and has received a right of residence. An asylum seeker, on the other hand, is a person who seeks protection and right of residence in a foreign country. An asylum seeker gets refugee status if he is granted asylum.

Provinces with unequal status

Finland is a large and partly sparsely populated country. Peltokangas sees that inequality in Finland is accentuated, especially in small towns.

The picture attached to the weekend update was taken in Ylivieska in front of the price sign at the gas station.

– The most brilliant thing is that fuel costs a euro less per liter than during the socialist government. Yes, exactly one euro, Peltokangas concludes his writing.

According to Peltokanka, in different parts of Finland, for example, fuel prices vary a lot.

– Why is it the case that the same piece of cake costs a different amount in two places, this is surprising.

According to him, from the point of view of the national economy, a discussion on, for example, the regulation of the price of gasoline would be more important overall than focusing on racism.

The price of gasoline has risen several times in the party’s politics. The general value added tax rate raised in September also affected the price of gasoline, for which the party was also reimbursed earlier.

Finance Minister Riikka Purra commented on Peltokanga’s update, referring to the price of gasoline.

– Yes, the bush is so cheap that a camel would be more expensive? Purra asks in his comment.