Finland: pushback law adopted
Under a controversial new law passed by the Finnish parliament on Friday, asylum seekers arriving at the country's border via Russia can be turned away. The law legalising pushbacks will be valid for one year. It was passed in reaction to the growing number of persons from the Middle East and Africa without valid travel documents arriving at Finland's border, which for the Finnish government is a deliberate strategy by Russia. The national press points to the consequences of this attempt at destabilisation.
Putin will go on needling
Ilta Sanomat is convinced that Russia will allow refugees to cross the border again:
“If the border is opened, Russia may start letting a small number of asylum seekers into Finland every now and then. ... It's also possible that Putin will decide to bring thousands of asylum-seeking migrants to the border. ... Putin can always pretend that he has no right to block the passage of asylum seekers through an open border crossing. ... But completely closing the border is an option at any time. The Kremlin's schemers should also remember that.”
Too much polemicising bad for debate
Lapin Kansa takes issue with the harsh tone of the discussion:
“Many of those who oppose the law fear that Finland's image as a constitutional state will be tarnished. But the law doesn't jeopardise our rule of law. However, society needs to engage in serious debates, and we need to highlight the problems with bills and laws. At the same time deliberate confrontation should be avoided. Those who oppose the law have been labelled traitors and Putinists, while those who defend it are called destroyers of the rule of law. Open and rigorous debate is part and parcel of politics, but not inappropriate stigmatisation.”