Rejecting calls from a number of opposition MPs to reconvene parliament for a vote of confidence in Finance Minister Riikka Purra (Finns), Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) told Yle that he does not consider it necessary to interrupt the lawmakers' summer break.
"The government is capable of functioning, our work functions. Legislative projects are being launched that are in line with the government programme," Orpo said.
This latest controversy, the third since the coalition took office last month, was sparked by the publication of comments that Purra wrote on a blog in 2008 which included racial slurs, anti-immigrant rhetoric and apparent threats of violence.
The government renounced racism in a statement it published on Tuesday, which was signed by the chairs of all four governing parties. Purra, initially refusing to acknowledge whether she was behind the blog posts or not, later issued an apology for what she termed "my stupid social media comments 15 years ago".
Halla-aho: Clear proof needed to reconvene
Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho (Finns) reiterated Orpo's message on Twitter on Thursday.
"A vote of confidence in the government was held on 28 June. The opposition proposed a motion of no confidence in the government and lost the vote. Since the opposition has already expressed its position of no confidence, there is no point in reconvening the parliament to express the same thing again," the post reads in Finnish.
He added that reconvening would require clear proof that the majority of MPs, not just the opposition, have no confidence in either the government or a specific minister.
Halla-aho noted that no parliamentary group had yet approached him with a proposal to recall parliament and hold the vote.
The comments by Purra which have led to calls for a vote of confidence were originally made on a blog written by Halla-aho.
Orpo: Not good for Finland's image
Finnish business and industry leaders have expressed concerned that the scandals revolving around racist remarks by members of the coalition, and international media coverage, could have a negative impact on the nation's image.
Prime Minister Orpo conceded that these scandals have not been good for how Finland is viewed abroad.
"The national image of Finland is very strong. The task of every government minister is now to convey the message to the world that Finland's policy will not change, Finland will not change," he stated in the Yle interview.
According to Orpo, Finland is the same reliable partner that supports and protects free western democracy and its core values, from the rule of law to human rights.
The Prime Minister also thanked Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP), who on Tuesday conveyed an apology to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan from the Finnish government. The apology concerned "improper remarks" by "a member of our new government" – a reference to a slur targeting Turks that was among the comments posted by Riikka Purra in 2008.
This item was updated to include remarks by Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho.