Human Rights Judge Pauliine Koskelo Questions Asylum Interpretation That Ignores the Threat of Hybrid Warfare

The immigration of people from developing countries has become a major problem for EU countries, as a large proportion of them have not wanted to adapt to the European way of life. Regarding Eastern EU countries, it must also be noted that Russia seeks to use people of developing country backgrounds as a tool of hybrid warfare by transporting them to its own or Belarus's eastern border to attempt to cross into the West.

For this reason, Finland has enacted a temporary border security law, based on which the border with Russia has been closed to traffic. Therefore, it was interesting to note that former European Court of Human Rights judge Pauliine Koskelo commented on the ongoing parliamentary debate about extending Finland’s border security law.

According to the judge, it is evident "that with respect to border situations, the only scenario considered in interpretive practice is that anyone attempting to cross the border outside normal passport control, appearing to be a 'civilian', is a potential asylum seeker who must be allowed into the country so that they have an opportunity to seek asylum. The question is, how far can such an approach based on a single fundamental assumption — one that leaves no room for, for example, the protection of national security — be extended?"

She continued that "this alone should require that the contracting state retains a real possibility to repel actions by a third state that would unlawfully funnel unknown people with unknown intentions across its border... The idea that the need to protect national security should have no significance even when a foreign state begins to 'push' unknown individuals across the border — while at the same time controlling who these people are, how many there are, where they may come from, what their intentions are, and the risk situation posed on their side of the border — seems difficult to defend, especially if there are signs of hostile state motives behind the circumstances."

She concluded her view by stating that "if even in such a scenario the contracting state would have to allow free entry to anyone solely on the basis that they declare themselves as asylum seekers or create a first impression suggesting so, it could be reasonably assessed that the limits of interpretative acceptability would be seriously tested."

Koskelo’s view matches my own and undoubtedly also that of almost all other people. Therefore, it is astonishing that there are still people in Finland who seem to firmly believe that Vladimir Putin has the right to push as many people as he wishes across the Finnish border, simply because international human rights treaties could be interpreted that way. Not long ago, even Finland's Constitutional Law Committee included three such individuals: one from the Left Alliance, one from the Greens, and one from the Social Democrats.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:

Should Finland Heed the Warnings of a Left-Wing Idealist?
Finland to Tighten Citizenship Requirements Further
Duck emphasizing the urgency of the new border law

In Finland, the Enemy Is Clear – and Now the Truth Is Emerging for the Palestinians Too

The Finnish government is proposing an extension to the so-called "pushback law." This law, which closes the border between Finland and Russia, came into effect last July with an almost unanimous decision in Parliament. Extending it once again requires a clear majority in Parliament.

That appears to be happening, as the parties still hold the same positions they did during the original vote that enacted the law. Only the Greens and the Left Alliance oppose the proposal, while the rest understand that Putin must not be given the opportunity to continue his hybrid warfare, which instrumentalizes migrants.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats—also in opposition—have stated that "ensuring border security is just as relevant as it was a year ago," and they intend to support the government. The Centre Party, also in opposition, will do the same.

It seems that Finland’s eastern border will remain closed until Russia provides credible proof that it will no longer use asylum seekers against Finland. For everyone's sake, it would be best if this happened as soon as possible—the ball is now in Vladimir Putin’s court.

* * *

News has also emerged from the Holy Land. Frustration among Gaza’s residents appears to have reached new heights after Israel resumed bombings a week ago, following a two-month ceasefire.

As a result, Palestinians in Gaza staged a protest on Tuesday against Hamas, which governs the territory. The demonstrators called Hamas members terrorists and demanded an end to the war against Israel.

It appears that many Palestinians have come to realize that their biggest problem is not Israel but Hamas, which continues to wage endless terrorism. However, it remains to be seen whether the protests will grow large enough to force Hamas to surrender, release the hostages, and agree to lay down its arms permanently.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Complete Demilitarization of Gaza: What Would It Mean for the Palestinians?
Time for Hamas to Accept the Facts
Defending National Security: Finland's Response to Hybrid Warfare

An African and an Iranian Immigrant Educated a Woke-Blinded Deputy Mayor

Yesterday, I wrote about how an ethnically Finnish female deputy mayor Piia Elo (Social Democrats) wanted to take an old board game - Star of Africa - away from children in daycare. It didn’t take long before Somali-born school assistant Jama Jama weighed in on the matter.

He stated, “Good people, leave the board games alone. This makes no sense… Leave the board games for children and youth to play. The ‘Star of Africa’ is part of Finnish culture… I play it (‘Star of Africa’) every day with the kids. There is no racism in that game.”

And he’s not the only one. An Iranian living in Finland, Bijan Rezah Jahromi, also commented on social media, writing, “I personally remember when I moved to Finland at the age of 6, we played the ‘Star of Africa’ and other board games as well as ice hockey. That’s how I quickly learned the Finnish language. Let children be children.”

So, it took an African and an Iranian immigrant to tell an ethnically Finnish, woke-blinded deputy mayor that she is utterly lacking in understanding. Unfortunately, I suspect that this particular Social Democrat and self-appointed advocate doesn’t have the insight to recognize even the disregard—if not outright racism—toward Africans and their culture inherent in her own behavior.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
A Finnish Deputy Mayor Wanted to Ban an Old Board Game from Children
A Finnish police officer is afraid to speak about the problems of immigration
Finnish journalist called for British Prime Minister´s head to be placed on London bridge to dry

The Fall of Germany’s Government Could Open the EU’s Path to a Better Future

Germany's Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz has led a coalition government that now appears to have reached the end of the road. This is because all the ministers from the liberal FDP party announced their resignation from the government after Scholz dismissed the party's chairman, Finance Minister Christian Lindner, from his post.

Scholz explained that the reason for Lindner’s dismissal was a loss of confidence in him, stemming from the liberal Finance Minister's economic policy views, which differed from those of the Chancellor and the third coalition partner, the Greens.

Next, Scholz intends to negotiate with the leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU), Friedrich Merz, and offer him an opportunity to “work constructively together on issues critical to our country.” It remains to be seen whether Merz will be willing to rescue Scholz, whose popularity among the public continues to decline.

The Greens, however, would like to continue governing Germany alongside the Social Democrats. Nonetheless, Scholz is expected to face a parliamentary vote of confidence in January. Should the government receive a vote of no confidence, new parliamentary elections would likely be held in March.

According to recent polls, significant shifts could be expected in the Bundestag. The latest surveys indicate that only 16 percent of eligible voters currently support the SPD, while the country’s most popular party is now the CDU with around 32 percent support.

The immigration-critical right-wing party AfD holds second place with 17 percent, followed by the SPD. The Greens have around 10 percent support, and the immigration-critical left-wing party BSW holds about seven percent. All other parties, including the liberals, are currently polling below Germany's five-percent electoral threshold.

In my view, it would be beneficial for Europe if the German parliament were to dissolve the government and hold elections as soon as possible. This way, the EU could rid itself of Germany’s Russia-leaning government and hopefully see a new leadership in its leading nation, one that could pursue foreign policy independent of Russia and bring Germany's economy back on a growth track.

This would also allow the EU, under Germany's leadership, to take responsibility for supporting Ukraine against the Russian aggressor – especially if the United States, under a returning president, shifts its military support more towards Taiwan in response to increasing pressure from China, and if Donald Trump fails to negotiate a peace within 24 hours, as may be expected.

And that’s not all, as a favorable election result could also lead to the AfD joining the government, which would make immigration a prominent issue in German politics. This, in turn, could potentially put an end to the mass migration across the Mediterranean.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
From Finland to Olaf Scholz: The Imperative of Supporting Ukraine's Independence instead of its Finlandization
The EU Is Suffocating Under Double Bureaucracy
The Rise, Fall, and Future of the European Green Parties

Will immigration give rise to a National Socialist party in Finland

In Germany, people are fed up with Berlin's immigration policy, as we could observe in the recent state elections. This is due to problems caused by certain groups of immigrants.

These problems continued when an Austrian Islamist, who apparently tried to reach the Israeli embassy, opened fire in Munich, resulting in the police ending his radicalism. One of the man's motives was likely the anniversary of the Munich massacre, where Palestinian terrorists killed eleven Israeli athletes.

This incident is unlikely to reduce the popularity of Germany's immigration-critical parties but will rather deepen Chancellor Olaf Scholz's troubles in leading the country. This may, in turn, lead to a real collapse of the Social Democrats (SPD) in next year's federal elections.

However, for the time being, there are no clear signs of this, although SPD's support has fallen in the polls from 24.1% in the 2021 federal election to around 15%. At the same time, particularly Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW party, which primarily represents national socialism and is critical of immigration, has increased its support from zero to eight percent - in other words, eating away a part of the SPD's support.

* * *

The situation of Germany's Social Democrats made me wonder whether a nationalist left-wing party could also emerge in Finland at some point. So far, especially the Left Alliance and the Greens, but also the SDP, have followed the traditions of international socialism - even though they no longer dare to call it internationalism - and thus there is no political home for nationalist leftists in Finland.

Of course, it is evident that there is currently no demand for such a party, but if Finland's growing immigrant population, like their German counterparts, increasingly profiles itself as a source of problems, such a movement could also emerge in our political left.

It is an undeniable fact that it is precisely the lower-income segment of the native population - and therefore often positively inclined towards socialism - that comes into the most contact with the population from developing countries. And thus, they also suffer the most from the negative side effects of immigration.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Finnish Government is Unanimous on Fixing the Country's Economy
The Role of Ukraine Aid in the Elections of Thuringia and Saxony, Germany
Javier Milei of Argentina Called England a Dystopian Socialist Nightmare

The Social Democrats of Germany Supporting Putin

Germany, led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, plans to halve its support for Ukraine in order to get its debt under control. In doing so, it will also end up supporting Vladimir Putin's dictatorially ruled Russia.

This is happening at a time when Ukraine has just demonstrated its ability to surprise the Russian army after receiving a large aid package from the United States. In other words, it has shown that with the support of Western countries, it can change the course of the war.

Arkady Moshes of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs mentioned that "it is visible that Ukraine's Western allies are steering Ukraine towards a ceasefire or peace," because "some Westerners are no longer worried that Ukraine's collapse would lead them into a risky situation."

This statement immediately brought to my mind British Foreign Minister Neville Chamberlain's 1938 declaration of "peace for our time," after he and his Western colleagues had forced Czechoslovakia to cede part of its territory to Adolf Hitler's Germany. "Our time" lasted less than a year back then.

Of course, Scholz is just a Social Democrat, and perhaps for that reason, we cannot expect much understanding from him. Or at least, his Finnish ideological counterpart Timo Harakka does not possess such understanding, as journalist Ulla Appelsin just reminded us.

The fact remains, however, that if Western countries allow Russia to benefit from its attack on Ukraine, not only will Putin take note of it, but so will many other rulers of undemocratic states. The most notable of these is China, which has an obsession with incorporating Taiwan, but also has ambitions in the vicinity of the Himalayan mountains.

By saying all this, I do not mean that the end of the war in Ukraine is not a good and important goal. Rather, I remind you that peace at any cost is not reasonable.

And European politicians should therefore avoid making Chamberlain-like mistakes and ensure that the democratic world does not allow the use of military force to redraw national borders—not in Ukraine, not in Taiwan, and not at the borders of Finland or the Baltic States.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Ukraine can and will stop Putin
Putin's understanding and the battle between the gods
A gift from the free world to Ukraine