Finance Minister and Finns Party leader Riikka Purra has said she accepts comments made by her party's deputy chair Teemu Keskisarja on Yle's A-studio, and doubts police investigations will lead to charges.
Keskisarja described immigrants to Finland as "low quality" and referred to the "great replacement" conspiracy theory as a fact.
His remarks have prompted four criminal complaints to Helsinki Police, which is considering whether to open a preliminary investigation. Two complaints have also been filed with the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
"I strongly doubt the investigations will proceed. Keskisarja speaks in a colourful way. He often uses rather brutal language," Purra said speaking on Yle's Ykkösaamu talkshow programme on Saturday.
Purra disagreed that Keskisarja's comments contradicted the government's commitment to anti-racism.
"This is not racism. We must be able to talk about these issues in Finland without constant outrage."
Purra stressed the Finns Party still supports the government's anti-racism initiative.
Tensions within government
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) told Helsingin Sanomat that Keskisarja's statements will be discussed in government, adding he does not accept them. Purra said she had already spoken with Orpo about the matter.
Keskisarja later dismissed Orpo's response as "AI-generated jargon."
"I absolutely do not encourage our MPs to criticise the prime minister," Purra said
On Saturday, Orpo issued a statement on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, addressing the comments from the Finns Party leadership.
"The recent speeches by the Finns Party leadership and the language they use must be discussed in the government. The budget debate will not end until the matter has been discussed together."
Support for the Finns Party has fallen to 12.3 percent in Yle's latest party support poll, compared with 20.1 percent at the last parliamentary election.
"We talk about issues other parties do not. I don't believe the decline in support is due to our immigration policy or the words we use," Purra responded when asked if harsh rhetoric was a strategy to boost support.
She also defended the party's use of terms close to the "great replacement" conspiracy theory, which the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo) has linked to far-right violence.
"We are not talking about that. We are talking about verifiable statistics on immigrant numbers, employment rates, school problems, tax contributions, and so on," Purra claimed.
Budget talks ahead
Purra said next year's budget will run a deficit of around 10 billion euros.
"A deficit of 10 billion euros is horrific and debt is still growing. The essential reason is the lack of economic growth."
She said she will propose 900 million euros in spending cuts, though critics have described the plan as a Finns Party wish list.
"It is nonsense to think the Finns Party would willingly propose cuts to municipal funding or other essential services."
Purra stressed that health and social services will not face reductions.
"We want people's outlook for the future to improve and for them to start spending. In this situation we cannot take measures that would weaken purchasing power."
