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Marin says coronavirus subsidies to be extended, condemns political harassment

The premier denounced a graffiti attack on a Greens office and recent harassment of Centre Party politicians.

Oulun vihreän kunnallisjärjestön puheenjohtaja Aino-Kaisa Manninen katsoo vihreiden toimiston hakaristein ja uhkauksin töhrittyjä ikkunoita.Nainen katsoo
Threatening messages in English were painted outside the Greens office in Oulu on Friday. Image: Timo Sipola / Yle
  • Yle News

Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) says it is highly likely that the government will extend coronavirus subsidies for companies.

In an interview with the Tampere daily Aamulehti on Sunday, the premier said that the cabinet is preparing for more supports, which are to be extended for as long as the Covid-19 crisis lasts.

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Sanna Marin saapumassa Säätytalolle Helsingissä
Marin arrived for cabinet coronavirus talks at the House of Estates on Friday. Image: Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva

Marin also commented on the planned phase-out of bankruptcy protection measures next month, saying that she did not believe that it would lead to a major wave of business failures.

Political harassment "unacceptable"

On Saturday evening, Marin took to Twitter comment on recent cases of political harassment.

The previous evening, the office of the Greens in the northern city of Oulu was vandalised with graffiti. Its doors and windows were spray-painted with swastikas and English-language threats.

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Ilkivallantekijöiden töhrimä hakaristi Oulun vihreiden toimiston ovessa
The PM condemned the graffiti attack on a Greens office. Image: Timo Sipola / Yle

Police have begun a preliminary investigation and are asking any possible eyewitnesses to step forward.

Marin commented on this incident and recent harassment directed at Centre Party politicians.

She said there must be a clear unified message that this is unacceptable. Marin noted that such behaviour has an impact on political activity and on people's willingness to enter the field.

On Wednesday, an online campaign speech by Centre party chair and Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko was disrupted with racist and neo-Nazi heckling, Helsingin Sanomat reported.

On 7 January, Centre MP and former prime minister Juha Sipilä was punched or shoved on a crosswalk near the Parliament building, but was not injured.