Finns Party MP Vilhelm Junnila declared that he wouldn't participate again in an event organized by the now-banned Nordic Resistance Movement militia, Euronews reported.
In a startling revelation, Finland's newly appointed Minister for Economic Affairs, Vilhelm Junnila, has issued an apology for his participation in a rally organized by neo-Nazi groups. Junnila, a member of the far-right Finns Party was only sworn in to his new role on June 20. He expressed remorse for his involvement with the now-banned Nordic Resistance Movement militia and condemned the Holocaust. Additionally, he apologized for making a joke referencing the number '88,' which is associated with the white supremacist slogan 'Heil Hitler.'
Junnila's controversial appearance occurred at an event in Turku, a city in western Finland, which purportedly aimed to commemorate a terrorist attack perpetrated by a Muslim assailant two years earlier. However, it was later revealed that the rally was organized by the Coalition of Nationalists, an umbrella group comprising far-right organizations such as the Finns Party, the banned Nordic Resistance Movement, and the Soldiers of Odin vigilante movement.
The Coalition of Nationalists had previously attracted media attention in the spring of the same year when it was discovered that they had arranged firearms training in a forest camp, where government ministers' faces were used as targets. The event at which Junnila spoke was described by a researcher as a gathering of neo-Nazis in Finland, with photographs showing members of various shadowy extreme right-wing organizations standing behind him, although they were on the opposite riverbank.
In a Facebook post on June 22, Junnila defended his presence at the event, stating that he delivered a speech to honor the memory of the victims and that the gathering was not intended as a political demonstration.
"There was a crowd of people there. Delivered a speech at the event. It was an event to honor the memory of the victims of the attack, not a demonstration or political event. The video recording of the event is still available online, I would no longer participate in such an event if it was organized," he said.
Addressing another controversy, Junnila expressed regret for his remarks about the number '88.' He clarified that the Finnish Election Commission had randomly assigned this number as his candidate number in the 2019 parliamentary elections. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the significance of '88' as coded shorthand for 'Heil Hitler' among neo-Nazis. Junnila referred to his actions as "stupid and childish," and he extended an apology, acknowledging that he had made a mistake.
"I have done something wrong and I am sorry for my actions," Junnila stated.
In a subsequent update, the Minister reiterated his condemnation of the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, and all anti-Semitic acts. He emphasized his strong and unwavering opposition to such beliefs and actions.
"I hope everyone is clear that I condemn the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, and all anti-Semitic acts strongly and defiantly," he noted
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