James Hirvisaari
Encyclopedia
James Hirvisaari is a Finnish member of parliament
, elected in the 2011 general election
held on April 17 on the electoral list of the True Finns
party. He is a former train driver, educated at the Helsinki
Pasila engine drivers' school in 1980–1982. He gained a place at the University of Helsinki
in 1999 to study theology, and is still registered as an undergraduate student. Hirvisaari undertook his military national service
in the Kymi Anti-Aircraft Battalion in 1979–1980 in the city of Kouvola
. In July 2011 stated that the killings in Oslo
on July 22, 2011, by a right-wing extremist were a side-effect of Norway's immigration policies.
During his 2011 election campaign Hirvisaari was critical of the immigration policies in Finland ("Maahanmuutto hallintaan! – Immigation under control!), and supported national sovereignty ("Riittää, että kansalaiset ovat sitä mieltä – muita perusteluja ei tarvita." – "It is enough that the citizens are of that opinion – no other arguments are needed.") as well as Finland generally as a country ("Suomen kieli – Suomen mieli – Suomen luonto – Suomen lippu" – "Finnish language – Finnish mind – Finnish nature – Finnish flag").
Just before the 2011 general election Hirvisaari was prosecuted for his blog in the Uusi Suomi
newspaper web site under the title "Kikkarapäälle kuonoon". The text referenced an attack on a foreign person in Helsinki — Hirvisaari wrote that the crime had not necessarily been a racist one. In November 2010 the district court of Päijät-Häme dropped the charges against him of instigating violence against a group of people. After consultation with deputy general attorney, Jorma Kalske, the state appealed against the verdict.
congratulated Hirvisaari for his election to the Finnish parliament and referred to him as "one of its members".
party politicians Juho Eerola, Jussi Halla-Aho, Olli Immonen, Teemu Lahtinen, Maria Lohela, Heikki Luoto, Heta Lähteenaro, Johannes Nieminen, Vesa-Matti Saarakkala
, Pasi Salonen, Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo and Freddy Van Wonterghem.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, elected in the 2011 general election
Finnish parliamentary election, 2011
An election to the Eduskunta was held on 17 April 2011 after the termination of the previous parliamentary term. Advance voting, which included voting by Finnish expatriates, was held between 6 and 12 April with a turnout of 31.2%....
held on April 17 on the electoral list of the True Finns
True Finns
True Finns or The Finns is a populist and nationalist political party in Finland, founded in 1995 following the dissolution of the Finnish Rural Party. The head of the movement is Timo Soini. In the 2011 Finnish parliamentary election, The party won 19.1% of votes, becoming the third largest party...
party. He is a former train driver, educated at the Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
Pasila engine drivers' school in 1980–1982. He gained a place at the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
in 1999 to study theology, and is still registered as an undergraduate student. Hirvisaari undertook his military national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in the Kymi Anti-Aircraft Battalion in 1979–1980 in the city of Kouvola
Kouvola
Kouvola is a town and municipality in southeastern Finland. It is located northeast of the capital, Helsinki.The city has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
. In July 2011 stated that the killings in Oslo
2011 Norway attacks
The 2011 Norway attacks were two sequential terrorist attacks against the government, the civilian population and a summer camp in Norway on 22 July 2011....
on July 22, 2011, by a right-wing extremist were a side-effect of Norway's immigration policies.
During his 2011 election campaign Hirvisaari was critical of the immigration policies in Finland ("Maahanmuutto hallintaan! – Immigation under control!), and supported national sovereignty ("Riittää, että kansalaiset ovat sitä mieltä – muita perusteluja ei tarvita." – "It is enough that the citizens are of that opinion – no other arguments are needed.") as well as Finland generally as a country ("Suomen kieli – Suomen mieli – Suomen luonto – Suomen lippu" – "Finnish language – Finnish mind – Finnish nature – Finnish flag").
Just before the 2011 general election Hirvisaari was prosecuted for his blog in the Uusi Suomi
Uusi Suomi
Uusi Suomi was a Finnish daily newspaper, which was published from 1919 to 1991.On May 25, 2007, it was announced that the Finnish company Nikotiimi had purchased the rights to the name "Uusi Suomi" from Alma Media and would start an online newspaper bearing that name in the fall of...
newspaper web site under the title "Kikkarapäälle kuonoon". The text referenced an attack on a foreign person in Helsinki — Hirvisaari wrote that the crime had not necessarily been a racist one. In November 2010 the district court of Päijät-Häme dropped the charges against him of instigating violence against a group of people. After consultation with deputy general attorney, Jorma Kalske, the state appealed against the verdict.
Suomen Sisu
The board of the Finnish nationalist association Suomen SisuSuomen Sisu
Suomen Sisu is a Finnish association that defines itself as nationalist and patriotic, criticizing unlimited immigration and multiculturalism. Suomen Sisu proclaims to support the idea of independent national states, that govern themselves sovereignly, and opposes supranational co-operation,...
congratulated Hirvisaari for his election to the Finnish parliament and referred to him as "one of its members".
Nuiva manifesti
James Hirvisaari was one of the authors of the so-called "Nuiva Manifesti" ("The sour electoral manifesto"), an election campaign programme critical of current Finnish immigration policy. The other authors were True FinnsTrue Finns
True Finns or The Finns is a populist and nationalist political party in Finland, founded in 1995 following the dissolution of the Finnish Rural Party. The head of the movement is Timo Soini. In the 2011 Finnish parliamentary election, The party won 19.1% of votes, becoming the third largest party...
party politicians Juho Eerola, Jussi Halla-Aho, Olli Immonen, Teemu Lahtinen, Maria Lohela, Heikki Luoto, Heta Lähteenaro, Johannes Nieminen, Vesa-Matti Saarakkala
Vesa-Matti Saarakkala
-Sources:...
, Pasi Salonen, Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo and Freddy Van Wonterghem.