National Coalition Party chairman Jyrki Katainen has denounced party MP Petri Salo’s racist statements. Katainen expressed his views on the matter in a Finnish Broadcasting Company Swedish-language newscast.
During a Saturday election campaigning function in the western city of Vaasa, Salo said that the Somalis living in Finland are drug-users with no intention of finding work.
In Salo’s view the only alternative in such a situation is to vote for the National Coalition, who will be granted the next Ministry of the Interior portfolio. The Ministry of the Interior includes immigration among its areas of responsibility.
Salo is a second-term Member of Parliament and a police officer in civilian life.
Katainen sees it as regrettable that a member of the party in good standing is spreading prejudices. The chairman has promised to investigate the matter.
Salo was found guilty of defamation earlier this year and was ordered to pay compensation of EUR 2,000 to a member of the Alahärmä municipal council. He had insinuated in 2005 that the council member was a drug-user.
