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Greens submit no-confidence motion in interior minister over alleged refugee discrimination

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) said on Thursday evening that Minister Rantanen continued to have his trust.

Woman in yellow denim jacket speaking at parliament.
File photo of Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns). Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
  • Yle News
  • STT

The opposition Green Party has submitted a no-confidence motion in Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns), following a report by the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman regarding the ministry's quota refugee arrangements.

The Greens submitted the motion one day after the ombudsman issued a report alleging that the interior ministry had favoured asylum seekers from Christian-majority countries when it provided instructions to officials working on quota refugee policy.

The ombudsman's report referred to the goals of the Finns Party regarding immigration as well as "open Islamophobia" affecting policymaking.

Rantanen reiterated in Parliament on Friday that the ministry's quota refugee plans were not made on the basis of religion.

The Greens said they were waiting to hear Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's (NCP) reaction to the ombudsman's report.

Orpo, who was at an EU summit in Brussels, said on Thursday evening that Minister Rantanen continued to have his trust.

"As the ombudsman stated, the chancellor of justice must be given an opportunity to investigate, this is how it's done. The official view [of the situation] will be known after that. Therefore, Rantanen has my trust," Orpo said, according to Finnish news agency STT.

Edited to add Rantanen saying that the ministry's quota refugee plans were not made on the basis of religion.