Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö expressed deep concern about the future of democracy in Europe in his New Year speech.
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö expressed deep concern about the future of democracy in Europe in his New Year speech.
In the speech, he also touched on social developments with the controversial increase in sex crimes and insecurity in Finland, Samhällsnytt reports.
He explained that Europe has “ended up in a destructive battle over its own values”, and specifically drew attention to the Yellow Vest protests in France.
Instead of exporting our European values, we now have to defend them at home.
The President also stated that “Finland is the most democratic, most equal and free country in the world.”
“Our strength has always been trust, also for authorities: from teaching to social services, from police to health care.”
The explanation for Finland’s security has always been that “those who create our security have traditionally enjoyed our appreciation”, he continued.
However, recently, a negative development in the attitude towards, among others, the police have attracted attention in the country.
“It is now becoming increasingly common for them to be exposed to inappropriate, even aggressive behaviour. Something is seriously wrong if those who provide society services in their work have to be afraid of the people they are helping.”
Niinistö also touched on the recent gang rapes of women and girls in the country.
The Media has drawn attention to how Afghan and Iraqi men dominate the sex crime statistics in the country and the debate has aroused anger in the Finnish population.
“We have signed international agreements to protect those in need, and we shall follow those agreements. But we have learned that the system can be abused by people who want to enter the country for other reasons.”
“In addition, we have seen how some of those who sought protection from us, and received it, have themselves created insecurity through inhuman deeds.”, he concluded.
