Russian newspaper reports on racism controversy sparked by Finnish Prime Minister's father

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Is the Finnish Prime Minister a closet racist, or are family ties more important to him than politics? According to the Russian newspaper Ruskij Kurier, these questions have been on the minds of Finns for more than a week.
     
In an extensive article published on Wednesday, the newspaper wrote about the study by Tatu Vanhanen and his British colleague Richard Lynn concerning the average IQs of different nations, and their impact on the achievements of those nations. Tatu Vanhanen is the father of Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre).
      According to the article, Vanhanen’s theory offers an explanation for why people in countries of relatively high intelligence, such as Russia, China, and Eastern Europe, can live in poverty. "According to Vanhanen and Lynn, this is caused by the long period of socialism", Ruskij Kurier writes.
     
According to Ruskij Kurier, Tatu Vanhanen is quite well known in a small circle, which has included German and Italian fascists, and which has had close ties with South Africa’s old apartheid ideology.
      The paper notes that for political reasons Vanhanen’s opinions have been largely ignored in the Western media.
      "Now the mass-circulation Helsingin Sanomat has broken this silence."
      The article also notes that Tatu Vanhanen has worked as a teacher for 50 years, and that during that time he has influenced quite a few students, many of whom have become members of Finland’s current political elite.
     
"It is clear that Finns made nervous by the interview are now demanding comments from the Prime Minister", Ruskij Kurier writes.
      "In this situation it is inappropriate for the Prime Minister to remain silent."
      Ruskij Kurier adds that the only group to publicly criticise Vanhanen have been his fellow researchers.
      The article notes that Petter Portin, a professor of genetics at the University of Turku, has said that industrialised countries and developing countries cannot be compared by the same criteria.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  No criminal investigation of racial views of Prime Minister’s father (13.8.2004)
  Comments in interview could bring charges of inciting racism against father or PM Vanhanen

Helsingin Sanomat