Finnish foreign minister apologizes for board member’s comments to Turkish counterpart

Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen of Finland recently issued an apology to the Turkish Foreign Minister for what she referred to as “inappropriate comments of a board member from years ago.”

The remarks, which included the use of racist language, were attributed to Riikka Purra, the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Finns party. Valtonen emphasized that these comments did not align with Finland’s values and expressed her commitment to maintaining a strong bilateral relationship with Türkiye, BNN reports.

In recent days, excerpts from old comments attributed to Riikka Purra, known by the pseudonym “riikka,” began circulating on social media. These comments were originally published in the guestbook of the Scripta blog, maintained by Jussi Halla-aho. The writings contained derogatory language, including the use of inappropriate term to Turkish individuals, sparking outrage and condemnation from various quarters.

Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen promptly addressed the issue during her meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Vilnius, coinciding with the NATO summit. Valtonen conveyed her apologies to Fidan, emphasizing that the controversial comments did not reflect Finland’s values and would never do so in the future. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its official Twitter account, reiterated Finland’s commitment to its relationship with Türkiye, both in terms of bilateral ties and as allies.

Finland places significant value on its relationship with Türkiye, fostering cooperation on various fronts. The two nations maintain bilateral trade and economic ties, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaboration. Moreover, as members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Finland and Türkiye share a common commitment to collective security.

Riikka Purra, a prominent figure within Finnish politics, holds the position of Minister of Finance and serves as the chairman of the Finns party. With her past writings resurfacing, Purra issued an apology on Tuesday for her old social media posts. She reiterated her remorse during a subsequent press conference held in the presence of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. Purra’s controversial remarks have sparked a wider conversation about political leaders’ responsibility for their past statements and actions.

The circulation of Purra’s comments drew widespread condemnation from the public, civil society organizations, and political opponents. Many expressed their disappointment with the use of racist language and called for accountability from elected officials. Some demanded further action from the Basic Finns party, urging them to address the issue and consider the impact of such rhetoric on societal cohesion.