Finns Party chair Timo Soini again Monday defended his party's decision to support a third bailout package for Greece.
In an interview with Yle TV on Monday morning, Soini said that the decision was made "reluctantly" because the alternative would have been the break-up of the cabinet and possibly new elections.
"These were the alternatives. I still continue to consider this policy of bailouts as a bad one," stated Soini, adding that life and time in opposition have provided lessons.
He pointed out that his party also came in for criticism from many of its supporters after big gains at the polls four years ago for staying in opposition.
"And now that we joined a government, that's being criticized," he added.
Soini on Immonen controversy: "I'm not the whole party"
Timo Soini also defended his decision not to make immediate comment in July on an inflammatory anti-immigration Facebook post by Finns Party MP Olli Immonen that sparked demonstrations around Finland.
At the time, the party leader was on holiday and did not respond to media attempts to contact him for reaction.
"I, too, have a life of my own and some rights, nor am I the whole party."
According to Soini, Immonen will have to provide the party's parliamentary group with an explanation and answer questions from his fellow party MPs. Following that, the matter will be discussed and the parliamentary group will decide if any action will be taken.
Soini also reacted to calls for him as party leader to deal with Immonen.
"It is rather arbitrary if one individual is supposed to condemn another without hearing him out and without the group to which he belongs. That's not how we do it," Timo Soini told Yle.