Finland’s new economy minister resigns over Nazi references

Finland’s economy minister Vilhelm Junnila has resigned after just 10 days in office, according to the nationalist Finns Party, over earlier statements he had made linked to Nazis.

“For the continuation of the government and the reputation of Finland, I see that it is impossible for me to continue as a minister in a satisfactory way,” Junnila said in a statement on Friday.Finland’s economy minister Vilhelm Junnila has resigned after just 10 days in office, according to the nationalist Finns Party, over earlier statements he had made linked to Nazis.

“For the continuation of the government and the reputation of Finland, I see that it is impossible for me to continue as a minister in a satisfactory way,” Junnila said in a statement on Friday.Distasteful joke
During his election campaign, public broadcaster YLE saw Junnila congratulate his fellow party member on his candidate number, 88.

The figure is known as a neo-Nazi symbol used in place of the Heil Hitler salute referencing Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in World War II.

“First of all, congratulations for the excellent candidate number. I know it’s a winning card. Obviously, this ’88’ refers to two H letters which we won’t say more about,” Junnila said in his address at a campaign event on March 10, according to YLE.

Junnila has apologised for his choice of words, saying it was a distasteful joke.In the April election, the eurosceptic, anti-immigration Finns Party came in second with 20.1 percent of the vote, right behind the National Coalition Party (NCP) at 20.8 percent.

The conservative NCP then formed a coalition with the Finns Party and two smaller groups.