No criminal investigation of racial views of Prime Minister’s father

Prime Minister Vanhanen criticises article in HS monthly supplement

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced on Thursday that it will not pursue a criminal investigation over the racial views expressed by Professor Tatu Vanhanen, the father of Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.
      In an interview with Kuukausiliite, the monthly supplement of Helsingin Sanomat, Professor Vanhanen had suggested that Africa’s lack of economic development was caused by the relatively low IQ of the population. The article prompted accusations of racist incitement.
      According to Thursday’s statement by the NBI, the article does not contain aspects that would give reason to suspect anyone of despising an ethnic group, or seeking to awaken such feelings among others.
      On Thursday Prime Minister Vanhanen reiterated his refusal to engage in public debate with his father. However, he did come out with a strong condemnation of all types of racism.
     
Speaking at a press conference held in connection with a meeting of the Centre Party’s Ministerial Group in Porvoo, Vanhanen said that racism and xenophobia must not be given any room for growth in Finland.
      When pressed by journalists on whether or not there are differences in intelligence between blacks and whites, Vanhanen responded: "I do not see any differences, but I am not a scientist, and I do not want to start to debate these issues with my own father.
     
The Prime Minister also indicated his displeasure with the Kuukausiliite article where his father’s views came out.
      He noted that the article described "how my father, who is already a senior citizen, received the journalist wearing a suit, but with his toes bare".
      "It continued in the same tone. I did not like the article."
      Prime Minister Vanhanen added that he had assumed that his father’s views on race had already been dealt with, as he has been expressing these opinions for more than ten years.
      Accordingly, the Prime Minister suspected that the purpose of the article was to provoke him into taking a stand on his father’s views. He noted that the first sentence read: "What would Prime Minister Vanhanen think, when he reads this interview?"


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Comments in interview could bring charges of inciting racism against PM Vanhanen's father (12.8.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat