Finland’s populist leader faces controversy FEATURE 04/17/2011

Finland’s populist leader faces controversy

FEATURE

04/17/2011
HELSINKI — The drizzle makes for a miserable, icy morning in the western Finnish industrial town of Pori, and yet at least 50 people — a crowd by local standards — are riveted by Timo Soini, the colourful and controversial head of the populist True Finns party.

The rotund party chairman tells a joke from his modest stage and the onlookers laugh despite the chill.

“He draws a crowd like flypaper catches flies,” says 54-year-old nurse Tarja Silfferi, who has come to watch the commotion even though she plans to support the leftwing Social Democrats in the Nordic country’s April 17 elections..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110417com3.html