Racism: Finnish Government Survives No-Confidence Vote

Finland’s Government has survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament called by the opposition over a racism scandal that has rocked the ruling coalition since it took office in June, an official tally showed.

Within days of assuming power in June, the four-party, right-wing Government was in turmoil after Finnish media revealed that several Ministers of the far-right Finns Party had posted statements in the past that critics deemed to be racist.

In an attempt to stave off collapse, the Government last week agreed on a policy to combat intolerance and brought it up on Wednesday for a plenary discussion in the Parliament.

The coalition survived Friday’s vote with support from 106 Members of the 200-Parliamentary Members, while 65 Members supported the no-confidence motion proposed by three opposition parties.

REUTERS