Vilhelm Junnila
{{Short description|Finnish politician (born 1982)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox MEP
| honorific-prefix =
| name =
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| party = Finns Party
| image = Vilhelm-Junnila-01 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Junnila in 2023
| office = Minister of Economic Affairs
| primeminister = Petteri Orpo
| term_start = 20 June 2023
| term_end = 6 July 2023
| predecessor = Mika Lintilä
| successor = Wille Rydman
| constituency_MP1 = Finland Proper
| term_start1 = 17 April 2019
| term_end1 =
| parliament = Finnish
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|3|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Naantali, Southwest Finland, Finland
| death_date =
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}}
Lassi Vilhelm Junnila (born 6 March 1982 in Naantali) is a Finnish politician currently serving in the Parliament of Finland, representing the constituency of Finland Proper.[https://www.eduskunta.fi/FI/kansanedustajat/Sivut/1409.aspx Eduskunta profile] He is a member of the Finns Party. He is currently a member in three committees: the Constitutional Law Committee (vice chairperson), the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Intelligence Oversight Committee. He is also a member in the Finnish delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Finns Party parliamentary group´s vice chairperson.
He was elected to the parliament in 2019 with 10,788 personal votes.{{Cite web |title=Koko maa, valitut 2019 |url=https://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/EKV-2019/fi/kokomaaval.html |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi}} In 2023 elections he was elected again with 8303 votes.{{Cite web |title=Koko maa, valitut 2023 |url=https://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/EKV-2023/fi/kokomaaval.html |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi}} Junnila is also a member of the Naantali City Council.{{Cite web|title=Kaupunginvaltuusto {{!}} Naantali|url=https://www.naantali.fi/fi/osallistuminen-ja-paatoksenteko/toimielimet/kaupunginvaltuusto|access-date=2020-09-15|website=www.naantali.fi|language=fi}}
In June 2023, he was appointed Minister of Economic Affairs in the Orpo Cabinet.{{Cite web |title=Prime Minister Orpo's Government appointed |url=https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/10616/prime-minister-orpo-s-government-appointed |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Valtioneuvosto |language=en-US}} After appointment, Junnila's past actions and potential connections to neo-Nazi organizations became a subject of heated discussion. On 30 June, Junnila announced that he would resign,{{Cite web |title=Vilhelm Junnila aikoo erota |url=https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000009689950.html |date=2023-06-30 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi}} making his term as a government minister one of the shortest in the political history of Finland since Lennart Oesch, who served as deputy Minister of Internal Affairs for 12 days in 1932.{{Cite web |title=Junnilan ministeripestistä tulee yksi Suomen historian lyhyimmistä |url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009690034.html |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |date=30 June 2023 |language=fi}}{{Cite web |title=Ministerin tiedot, Oesch, Karl Lennart |url=https://valtioneuvosto.fi/tietoa/historiaa/hallitukset-ja-ministerit/raportti/-/r/m2/316 |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=Finnish Government |language=fi}} Junnila was succeeded by Wille Rydman as Minister of Economic Affairs on 6 July.{{Cite web |title=Wille Rydman nimitettiin elinkeinoministeriksi |url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009701548.html |date=2023-07-06 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}
According to an aide, Junnila has previously worked at Fortum Oil and Gas and Neste Oil in IT, at the insulation and scaffolding company Arma Oy, and at smaller companies.{{Cite web |title=Katso uusien ministerien päättötodistukset |url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009670855.html |date=2023-06-28 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi}}
Political views
In between 2019 and 2022, Junnila made four budgetary motions in order to support Veljesapu-Perinneyhdistys, a Finnish organization that cherishes the heritage of the Finnish volunteers in the Waffen-SS. Junnila wrote in his motion, that the support would be "for the promotion of balanced historical research".{{Cite web|title=Vilhelm Junnila on useita kertoja esittänyt määrärahaa SS-perinnettä vaalivalle yhdistykselle|url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009689539.html|date=2023-06-30|access-date=2023-06-30|work=Helsingin Sanomat|language=fi}}
In November 2021, Junnila suggested in the Parliament that Finland should promote contraception and "climate abortions" – which he defined as "measures targeted to the population" – in "the underdeveloped societies of Africa" in order to curb population growth and enhance living conditions in Africa.{{Cite web|title=Kirjallinen kysymys KK 171/2019 vp |url=https://www.eduskunta.fi/FI/vaski/Kysymys/Sivut/KK_171+2019.aspx|date=2021-11-27|access-date=2023-06-30|website=Parliament of Finland|language=fi}} The suggestion was heavily criticized by the former Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen, who called it horrendous to suggest that so-called "climate abortions" should be targeted at specific ethnic groups.{{Cite web|title=Päivi Räsänen kuvaili ministeri Junnilan vanhaa kirjallista kysymystä järkyttäväksi – "Ei voi selittää huumoriksi" |url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009688781.html|date=2023-06-30|access-date=2023-06-30|work=Helsingin Sanomat|language=fi}}
In December 2021, Junnila joined to make a statement together with eight other parliament members who condemned Veronika Honkasalo's initiative to boycott Israel's import products. The statement claimed that Honkasalo's suggestion was anti-semitic.{{Cite web|title=KD:n Antero Laukkanen yhdessä 7 kansanedustajan kanssa: Veronika Honkasalon boikottilakialoite edistää antisemitismiä|url=https://www.kdlehti.fi/2021/12/03/kdn-antero-laukkanen-yhdessa-7-kansanedustajan-kanssa-veronika-honkasalon-boikottilakialoite-edistaa-antisemitismia/|access-date=2023-06-29|website=KD-Lehti|date=3 December 2021 |language=fi}}
Alleged neo-Nazi connections
After his ministerial position was announced, Junnila's alleged connections to neo-Nazi networks were widely discussed in social media.{{Cite web |title= Tuoreesta ministeristä Vilhelm Junnilasta nousi heti kohu – puhui äärioikeiston tapahtumassa ja vitsaili Hitleristä |url=https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000009672720.html |date=2023-06-21 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi}}
= Memorial event =
In 2019, Junnila was the featured speaker{{Cite web |title=Racism and rape fantasies: The PR headache facing Finland's new right-wing government |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/20/racism-and-rape-fantasies-the-pr-headache-facing-finlands-new-right-wing-government |date=2023-06-22 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Euronews}} at a memorial to the victims of the 2017 Turku terrorist attack, 188 Kukkavirta, organized by the far-right umbrella organization Coalition of Nationalists ({{langx|fi|Kansallismielisten liittouma}}) consisting of{{Cite web |title=Turun terrori-iskun vuosipäivää muistettiin mielenilmauksin |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-10927344 |date=2019-08-18 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Yle |language=fi}} the vigilante Soldiers of Odin and Nordic Resistance Movement militias{{Cite web |title=Tuleva elinkeinoministeri Junnila kommentoi kytköksiään äärioikeistoon: "Mitään suhdetta ei ole ollut alun perinkään" |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20037590 |date=2023-06-19 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Yle |language=fi}} since banned in Finland. According to Junnila, he has no relationship with the coalition. After heated public discussion, Junnila apologized for his conduct and said that he would not take part in far-right events in the future.{{Cite web |title=Elinkeinoministeri Vilhelm Junnila pahoittelee äärioikeistoaiheista vitsailuaan |url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009673389.html |date=2023-06-22 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Helsingin Sanomat 🦝 |language=fi}}
= Campaign remarks =
In the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election Junnila was randomly assigned the candidate number 88. He then used the far-right symbol 14/88 during his 2019 campaign. He connected his candidate number, 88, with the day of the election, the 14th, to use the phrase "On the 14th, 88" ({{langx|fi|"14. päivänä 88"}}){{cn|date=June 2023}} in his campaign advertising and candidate brief. 14/88 is another popular white supremacist slogan,{{Cite web |title=1488 {{!}} Hate Symbols Database {{!}} ADL |url=https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/1488 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=www.adl.org |language=en}} with the 14 referring to the "Fourteen Words" coined by the white supremacist David Lane ("We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.") Yle quoted author Mikko Porvali as saying that Junnila would've been aware what this sequence of numbers meant.
In the run-up to the 2023 election, Junnila spoke at an event where he congratulated another candidate of his party for receiving the number 88, called it a "winning card" and added: "The 88 of course refers to two letters H, about which we'll say no more." ({{langx|fi|”Tämä 88 viittaa tietenkin kahteen H-kirjaimeen, josta ei sen enempää puhuta.”}}){{Cite web |title=Vaalikarnevaali |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20024116 |date=2023-03-26 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Yle |language=fi}} Using the number "88" to mean "HH" as shorthand for "Heil Hitler" is a common white supremacist symbol.{{Cite web |title=88 {{!}} Hate Symbols Database {{!}} ADL |url=https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/88 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=www.adl.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Äärioikeistoon yhdistetty elinkeinoministeri Vilhelm Junnila kiistää uusnatsisympatiat Ylelle: "En kyllä koe flirttailevani" |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20038174 |date=2023-03-22 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Yle |language=fi}} His remarks were met with a round of laughter and one shout of "Heil Hitler!" (followed by a quieter "sorry.")
= Other =
Junnila commented{{Cite web |title=Pesukarhujahti – vastine kesän syytöksiin {{!}} Kansanedustaja Vilhelm Junnila |url=https://vilhelmjunnila.fi/pesukarhujahti-vastine-kesan-syytoksiin/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=vilhelmjunnila.fi}} on a photo circulating on social media, allegedly a Facebook photo posted by Junnila to his aide in 2014, that depicts a snowman holding a hangman's noose and with a head resembling a Ku Klux Klan hood, with a caption wishing for a white Christmas as being part of a parodied clip from the 2004 film Downfall ridiculing the person responsible for the snowman.
Junnila's campaign slogan in the 2015 election was "kaasua",{{Cite web |last=Junnila |first=Vilhelm |date=2015-03-03 |title=Kaasua autoveron poistamiseen! |url=https://puheenvuoro.uusisuomi.fi/vilhelmjunnila/188649-kaasua-autoveron-poistamiseen/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Uusi Suomi Puheenvuoro |language=fi}} which on social media was referred to operating a gas chamber. However, the campaign meant pressing the gas pedal to get rid of the car tax on new vehicles.{{Cite web |title=Kaasua autoveron poistamiseen! {{!}} Kansanedustaja Vilhelm Junnila |url=https://vilhelmjunnila.fi/kaasua-autoveron-poistamiseen/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=vilhelmjunnila.fi}}{{Cite web |last=Junnila |first=Vilhelm |date=2015-02-24 |title=Miten autoveron poistaminen rahoitettaisiin? |url=https://puheenvuoro.uusisuomi.fi/vilhelmjunnila/187924-miten-autoveron-poistaminen-rahoitettaisiin/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Uusi Suomi Puheenvuoro |language=fi}}
Vote of no confidence and resignation
On 27 June, the Green League, Left Alliance, and Social Democratic Party proposed a motion of no confidence against Junnila. Green Party MP Hanna Holopainen presented the motion, stating that Junnila's communication with far-right movements "appears to be continuous and close" and that "Minister Junnila's connections to far-right movements are not an isolated incident, a misunderstanding, or simply bad humor, but rather repeated, systematic, and comradely communication".{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20038641|title=Vihreät, vasemmistoliitto ja SDP esittivät epäluottamusta Junnilan epäiltyjen natsisympatioiden takia – eduskunta äänestää luottamuksesta|date=June 27, 2023|website=Yle}} The last major opposition party, the Centre Party, announced their support the following day.{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20038706/64-3-161913|title=Keskusta äänestää Junnilan epäluottamuksen puolesta|date=June 28, 2023|website=Yle}}
Junnila survived the motion with a vote of 95-86 on 28 June, with three abstentions and 15 absences. The vote created divisions within the Orpo Cabinet, the newly appointed Government of Finland, with seven of the ten MPs of the government coalition partner, the Swedish People's Party, voting against Junnila and three abstaining.{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20038754|title=Parliament supports minister after far-right scandal|date=June 28, 2023|website=Yle}} Notably, Ben Zyskowicz, the only Jewish MP, whose father survived Nazi concentration camps and whose government coalition party National Coalition supported Junnila, bucked the process to avoid giving his vote of confidence to Junnila.{{Cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000009684561.html|title=Ben Zyskowicz teki jotain poikkeuksellista Junnila-äänestyksessä|date=June 28, 2023|website=Ilta-Sanomat}} He was present in the chamber but refrained from voting, and his vote was marked as absent.
Junnila resigned two days later, stating that "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."{{Cite news |last=Topping |first=Alexandra |date=2023-06-30 |title=Finland coalition in chaos as far-right minister quits over 'climate abortion' remark |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/30/far-right-finnish-minister-vilhelm-junnila-resigns-after-10-days-over-nazi-comments |access-date=2023-07-12 |issn=0261-3077}}
References
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{{Eduskunta members 2023–2027}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Junnila, Vilhelm}}
Category:Finns Party politicians
Category:Members of the Parliament of Finland (2019–2023)
Category:Members of the Parliament of Finland (2023–2027)