Russia's border buildup, May Day celebrations, tax cuts for the rich, and joyful cows

Hello Insiders!

This weekend we commemorate World Press Freedom Day (thank you, United Nations!) and in Finland we have a lot to be grateful for, that journalists can mostly operate with freedom to do their jobs.

But that doesn’t mean we should be complacent: Finland is currently ranked #5 in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, behind Norway, Sweden and Estonia, and has been slipping slowly down the rankings for the last few years. There are warnings about lack of media plurality, about judicial overreach, and about frivolous lawsuits targeting journalists.

I know friends of mine who have been caught up in such lawsuits which are designed to intimidate and frighten journalists against reporting on subjects that some people in power would like us to ignore.

There are also ongoing concerns over the rhetoric targeting journalists, especially from politicians and in particular from politicians in governing parties. Like other journalists in Finland I’ve been on the receiving end of this (kiitos to MP Tere Sammallahti (NCP) for calling me a “sad fucking excuse for a journalist”) and thanks to the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Ombudsman the Finnish government is taken to task about these issues when they arise.

The leader of the Swedish People’s Party Anders Adlercreutz said this weekend that when journalists are silenced, the media is politicised, and disinformation becomes part of everyday life.

“In a world where algorithms drive our news consumption and everyone feels entitled to their own truth, media literacy and investing in it is more important than ever. The ability to evaluate sources, recognise propaganda and understand the workings of the media is crucial for both individual and societal resilience,” Adlercreutz says. A message he’ll surely be hammering home to some of his colleagues in government…

📰 Meanwhile a new study out this week finds that 53% of Finns under the age of 30 find the news “at least moderately exhausting”, with the most significant causes of news fatigue cited as a) Sensationalism and clickbait headlines (61%) b) Excessive negativity (40%) and c) Fragmentation of information across different sources (35%).

OK, enough with the super serious start to this week’s Finland Insider newsletter. Coming up I’ve got a look at Vappu celebrations, saunas in Switzerland, British attack helicopters, mobile phones banned in schools, and some happy cows in Viikki.

All that still to come, but first this:

Inside track: Ukraine, Russia and Donald Trump

🇷🇺 Russia. The Institute for the Study of War ISOW quotes a Wall Street Journal article that Russia is reportedly “expanding its military infrastructure along its border with Finland and stockpiling new tanks, likely in preparation for future aggression against NATO.”

➕ More. Finnish researcher Minna Ålander at Chatham House has a more in-depth look at Russia’s reported military buildup and what it could mean for Nordic and Baltic countries.

💥 Attack. Iltalehti newspaper reports that two Ukrainian drones were fired at targets in Murmansk, northern Russia, just 200km from the border with Finland. Russian authorities say both drones were shot down. The incident happened around 19:30 on Saturday evening.

📊 The Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA has new survey results out this week which find that 66% of Finns have a positive attitude towards NATO membership, which is down five percentage points over the last half year.

More than half of Finns (53%) don’t think that NATO membership guarantees other countries would come to help Finland in a real crisis, and that’s a drop of 17 percentage points since autumn 2023.

There’s a lot more to the survey which is pretty interesting, and you can read the full report here in English.

🇺🇦 President Alex Stubb gave an interview to the New York Times this week where he warned against subjecting Ukraine to “Finlandization,” called for more pressure on Vladimir Putin to get a peace deal, and said US President Donald Trump was running out of patience with the situation.

💰 Spending. Finland is seeking a waiver from the European Union to increase defense spending. According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance: “Under the EU's new fiscal rules, a member state can request the activation of a national escape clause. The escape clause allows a member state to temporarily deviate from the net expenditure path approved by the EU Council. The justification must be exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the Member State and which have a significant impact on public finances. Deviation from the net expenditure path must not jeopardise the sustainability of public finances in the medium term.” And now you know!

🚁 Choppers. British Apache and Wildcat helicopters have deployed to Finland as part of a major effort to strengthen joint training during the Finnish Army’s spring exercises.

🇺🇸 Tarrifs. The Ministry of Finance predicts that Finland’s economy will grow by 1.3% this year, but - and it’s a big but - any potential growth depends heavily on Donald Trump’s tariffs against the EU. If they’re in force for only a short period of time, then the growth figures are achievable. But if the Trump Administration keeps the tariffs in place longer term it will have a detrimental effect on the Finnish economy with weaker growth forecast. Thanks, Donny!

📺 War. Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen gave an interview to CNBC this week saying that appeasement of Russia hasn’t worked, and that Russia must be made to stop the war in Ukraine. Watch her interview here:

Inside the headlines

💽 Data. Chinese-owned mobile app TikTok plans to invest €1 billion to build its first data centre in Finland as it moves data storage for European users to the continent, Reuters reported this week.

🚔 Clashes. The openly racist and fascist Blue-Black League held a marchy in Tampere on May Day, and when a counter-protest of 200 so-called “Blue and White Movement” people showed up there were clashes between the two groups. Police arrested 15 Blue and White Movement protesters, and officers used non-lethal projectiles fired from a weapon that resembles a paint gun.

🔵⚫ And in related news… the Blue-Black League is now collecting signatures to try and get registered as a legitimate political party again. It was previously struck off the register because its policies and stated goals (as racists and fascists) were not in line with the Finnish constitution.

☎️ Phones. Parliament voted on Wednesday to restrict the use of phones and other mobile devices during the school day, “amid fears over their impact on student wellbeing and learning” the Guardian reports. Under the changes, which will come into effect on 1 August, mobile devices will be heavily restricted during lesson times. Pupils will be allowed to use them only with the teacher’s permission for healthcare or learning purposes.

☀️ Solar. The European Commission has offered €52.4 million in funding for seven solar projects in Finland, as part of a broader renewable energy package that also includes two wind projects in Estonia.

🐺 Cry, wolf. Parliament’s Environment Committee submitted a report this week agreeing with the government’s plans to ease protections on Finland’s resident wolf population. The proposed change in the protection status of the wolf are based on the development of the wolf population in the EU. The number of wolves has also increased significantly in Finland - and it does still remain a protected species - just not all year round.

🎵 Eurovision. Finnish singer Erika Vikman is the readers’ favourite to win this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, in a poll conducted by the well-respected Wiwibloggs website. Vikman sings “Ich Komme” (“I’m coming” in German) while straddling a giant phallic microphone stand.

[🔥 Hot take: The more I hear Erika Vikman’s song, the more I dislike it. It’s truly awful in every way. Just classless. Apparently sex sells for these online voters: but the good news is that Vikman is not even the best Finnish act at this year’s Eurovision, to be held later this month in Basel so there’s no chance of the contest coming to Tampere next year. That best Finnish entry is of course the Ostrobothnian comedy trio KAJ who are representing Sweden.]

🧖 Yksi, kaksi, kolme, sauna! Meanwhile, Vikman’s home city of Tampere and KAJ’s hometown of Vörå have teamed up to sponsor a Finnish lounge at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, which will feature a traditional Finnish sauna.

🚑 Vappu. The Helsinki Rescue service reports that they only experienced slightly higher call volumes for fire engines or ambulance over the Vappu / May Day celebrations this year. There were 162 emergency calls, mostly “falls and mild alcohol and drug overdoses.”

🎉 Celebrations. If you’re looking for all the best photographs from the Vappu Eve celebrations on 30 April, then might I suggest you look no further than the Instagram account of photographer Ants Vahter who has yet again done an amazing job of documenting Helsinki through the lenses of his camera:

Insider politics

📊 Taxes. In a new poll for Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday, members of the public overwhelmingly rejected the governments proposal to cut taxes for the rich. Finance Minister Riikka Purra (Finns) took to her blog in response to the poll, defending the policy and saying it is ultimately a growth measure.

💬 May Day. It’s traditional for Finnish political party leaders, and other politicians, to give speeches on May Day. This is particularly a tradition on the left of politics, considering that May Day is a traditional workers’ holiday. So what were some of the most prominent messages this year? Here’s a round-up:

🔵 National Coalition Party / Kokoomus. Minister of Labour Arto Satonen laid the blame for the country’s economic situation at the feet of the previous government, led by Sanna Marin (SDP) but says his party has really turned things around. “I have been able to implement numerous reforms of this government that have increased the competitiveness of Finnish work and created the conditions for Finland to be put on the path to growth.”

🟢 Green/Vihreät. Party leader Sofia Virta used her speech to say that PM Petteri Orpo’s government “has turned its back on those who are already having the hardest time.”

“Is Orpo's government serious when it has been claiming for two years that it is simply forced to cut back on children, the elderly and the disabled, but now it is suddenly distributing a billion or two of May Day money to its own interest groups?” she asks.

🎀 Left Alliance. Party leader Minja Koskela says Finland has the worst government in its history. “The government is hammering away at shared services, justifying it with public finances, but the government is prepared to pay for the benefits of the rich, even if it means debt.”

🎀 Left Alliance. MEP Jussi Saramo declares that Finland has the worst government in the EU! “The Orpo government has created a cycle in Finland where unemployment increases unemployment. This in turn reduces tax revenues and increases social spending,” he says.

🍀 Centre Party / Keskusta. Party Chairman Antti Kaikkonen highlighted Finland’s dire unemployment levels in his May Day speech at the statue of a former president Kyösti Kallio just outside parliament. “Unemployment has ballooned under Orpo's government. Unemployment is now at its highest level in nine years. The government promised 100,000 new jobs in its program. So far, things aren't looking good. Instead of new jobs, we've had 50,000 new unemployed people.”

🔴 Social Democrats / Demarit. Party Chairman Antti Lindtmann decries the government’s policies of tax cuts for the rich, but cuts to services and welfare for the poor or most vulnerable in society. “Low- and middle-income earners were also promised big tax cuts, but an ordinary teacher belonging to the OAJ ultimately receives five euros a month unless they leave their union,” he said, referencing a policy where the government wants to end the practice of making union dues tax deductible.

🔴 Social Democrats / Demarit. Parliamentary Group Chairperson Tytti Tuppurainen focused on Finland’s woeful employment situation which she notes is one of the worst in Europe, especially for men. “The obstacles to employment have not been very convincingly removed, while unemployment has also grown at a record rate in Europe. We are 170,000 jobs behind the employment target.”

🍞 Losers. An assistant to the Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso (Finns) has had to apologise after calling people on benefits “losers”. Mikko Talso wrote on Facebook “No one in Finland dies of hunger, Kela takes care of that. If you don't get food, that's your own stupidity!!! I say this because you losers who're waiting for support with your hand outstretched without getting your ass out of that chair, you deserve your poverty.” Harsh, bro. Harsh!

Minister Jusso says her assistant’s comments were stupid but she’s not going to fire him for it, because everyone deserves a second chance.

🔫 Charges. Former Finns Party MP Timo Vornanen is now staring down the barrel of criminal charges over a late-night shooting incident outside a Helsinki bar in April last year, when he allegedly brandished a gun and fired a shot during a heated discussion with a group of people. The former police officer (oh, the irony!) is being charged with assault, making two unlawful threats, endangering the life or health of another person, and also a firearms offence.

🏡 Residence. Someone has filed a complaint with the Administrative Court claiming that the leader of the Liike Nyt (Movement Now) political party Hjallis Harkimo was resident in Sippo and not Helsinki when he ran for his local council seat in the April elections. To be on the ballot in a particular municipality you have to be a resident there and before the voting there were some accusations about where Hjallis lived as his primary or secondary residence. If the Administrative Court rules that he is not a Helsinki resident, then he could lose his seat on the city council.

Finland international

🇵🇸 Palestine. Will Finland recognise Palestine as an independent state? Oh, not this old chestnut again! As we all know by now, Finland lags behind other Nordic and Baltic countries on recognising the State of Palestine. And this week Britain and France have been in talks to do exactly that, which probably adds another layer of pressure. But Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) told Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper on Saturday that they’re continuing to adopt a wait and see approach.

She was responding to an open letter written by a number of ex-ministers from across party lines which called on the government to immediately recognise Palestine.

“In Finland’s view, it is important to recognise Palestine at a time that best promotes progress towards a two-state solution," Valtonen told HBL.

🇮🇱 Israel/Gaza. President Stubb called Israel’s President Isaac Herzog on Friday, to discuss the possibilities for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the political process in the Middle East, according to the President’s Office.

Stubb also “raised his serious concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgent need to ensure access to lifesaving aid for civilians.”

🇽🇰 Kosovo. The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani Sadriu was in Helsinki recently for a working visit hosted by President Stubb. The pair “discussed bilateral relations between Finland and Kosovo, transatlantic relations, the situation in the Western Balkans and European security,” according to the President’s office.

“The bilateral relations between Kosovo and Finland are excellent and close, historically and today. In recent decades, many Finns have worked together with Kosovo to help Kosovo achieve independence and integrate into the European family,” President Stubb said.

“My friend and mentor, the late President Martti Ahtisaari, was a great friend of Kosovo. His vision of an independent and multi-ethnic Kosovo in the heart of Europe remains an important guideline for all of us,” Stubb added.

🇸🇦 Friend or foe? FM Valtonen had a phone call this week with her Saudi Arabian counterpart. She wrote online that “Finland and Saudi Arabia share a commitment to diplomacy and pragmatic efforts to stabilize the Middle East and bring peace to Ukraine.”

🤔 Just a couple of days later, Elina also wrote about World Press Freedom Day, saying that Finland reaffirms its commitment “to media freedom as a cornerstone of democracy, and to uphold the right to freedom of expression.”

Her friends in Saudi Arabia of course are no lovers of a free press or free speech or editorial independence and, for the LOLZ, routinely imprison journalists or even order them to be kidnapped, tortured, chopped up with a bone saw and dissolved in a bath of acid for being critical of the ruling regime. Makes you think about which countries are Finland’s friends, sharing similar values, and which countries are not friends and do not share virtually any of the same liberal societal values and yet who get treated as honoured respected allies…

🎫 Former US President Barack Obama has cancelled a speaking event in Tampere which was supposed to take place later this month, due to “unforseen circumstances”, according to organisers. Ticket prices ranged from €100 to €1600 per person.

And finally…

🐮 A herd of 64 cows at the University of Helsinki’s Viikki research centre have moved from their winter housing to outdoor pastures for the first time this year. They’ll finally be able to enjoy fresh air and green grass in between all the experiments I’m now imagining might be carried out on them… 😬 

Thank you, kiitos, tack!

🙏 That’s it, you’ve reached the final part of this week’s Finland Insider newsletter. It started out serious, got more serious, added some fun bits along the way and ended with cows. Something for everyone!

If you have any feedback, want to get in touch with a story suggestion or just want to say hello then drop me an email directly at: [email protected] 

Bye for now, and catch you next weekend,

David