All ministers in Finland’s government coalition, including party leaders, participated in a one-hour anti-racism training, following months of political pressure over racist statements and writings by members of the Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset). The initiative, initially scheduled for February 2024, was delayed due to scheduling conflicts and has now taken place amid ongoing concerns about racism in Finnish society and politics.
The training session began with introductory remarks by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (National Coalition Party, NCP) and a presentation by Anu Castaneda, research professor at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Castaneda’s talk, titled “Three myths about racism in Finland”, addressed persistent misconceptions about ethnic homogeneity, the visibility of racism, and the assumption that racism does not exist in the country.
Key myths about racism in Finland
Castaneda highlighted that the belief in an ethnically homogeneous Finland is a myth that still shapes public discourse. She noted that this idea stems from historical narratives tied to protecting a nation-state identity, but no longer reflects Finland’s current cultural reality. She also stressed the difficulty of recognising structural racism, using the example of job applicants with foreign names receiving fewer interview invitations. Lastly, she debunked the claim that racism is not present in Finland, citing THL data: up to 52% of foreign-born girls in grades 8-9 reported experiencing discrimination.
In response, Riikka Purra, Finance Minister and leader of the Finns Party, questioned the framing of these issues, warning that such narratives risk obscuring what she called the “side effects” of immigration. Other Finns Party ministers, including Interior Minister Mari Rantanen and Economic Affairs Minister Wille Rydman, expressed scepticism about the training’s value. Rantanen stated: “I don’t know if I really learned anything.” Rydman added, “We’re following the book,” when asked whether the session was necessary.
In contrast, Anders Adlercreutz, Education Minister and leader of the Swedish People’s Party, called the session important for establishing a shared understanding of racism in Finland. Prime Minister Orpo also described the training as constructive, saying, “There was no drama. This was a good training session.”
A broader government effort against racism
The anti-racism initiative follows the public outcry over revelations in summer 2023 about past racist comments by several Finns Party ministers. Although the government coalition remained intact after those revelations, opposition parties and civil society organisations have repeatedly questioned the coalition’s commitment to anti-racism.
The session concluded with a group discussion and a call to action: “What can you / do you want to influence? How?” While some ministers engaged with the discussion, others, including Purra, chose not to participate actively. “I can’t answer that because I don’t recognise such thought patterns in myself,” she said when asked if the training had influenced her views.
Despite the mixed reactions, the training represents a rare public moment of reflection by the Finnish government on issues of racism and discrimination, and could serve as a precedent for further institutional efforts in the future.
