By GAKUSHI FUJIWARA/ Correspondent
December 16, 2025 at 16:46 JST
Two Finnish members of parliament came under political and public fire for posting photos and videos on social media making a slanted-eyes gesture, widely regarded as racially offensive to Asians.
Representatives from the ruling coalition parties were scheduled to meet on Dec. 16 to consider disciplinary action, according to a spokesperson for the prime minister’s office.
The two parliamentarians belong to the right-wing, anti-immigration Finns Party, a member of the four-party ruling coalition.
A Finnish member of the European Parliament also posted a similar photo.
The controversy arose after a woman crowned Miss Finland was stripped of her title on Dec. 11 over a photo in which she pulled up her eyelids with her fingers to mimic upswept eyes.
Juho Eerola, one of the lawmakers, told The Asahi Shimbun on Dec. 15 that his intent was to defend the pageant winner because he felt it was a “disproportionately harsh punishment.”
“I am deeply sorry that my photo caused offense to Asian people,” he said, adding that he is prepared to apologize as many times as necessary.
In response to an inquiry from The Asahi Shimbun, the spokesperson for the prime minister’s office, Anne Sjoeholm, said on Dec. 15 that Finland “takes racism seriously and is committed to taking action to combat the issue.”
“There is no place for racism in Finland. Politicians have a responsibility to serve as examples in this respect,” she said, quoting from a government action plan.
In an interview broadcast on state radio on Dec. 14, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, leader of the center-right National Coalition Party, condemned the posts in question as “childish.”
A Japanese man living in Finland started an online petition protesting the offensive gesture and calling for an investigation into anti-Asian discrimination and measures for improvement.
The campaign had gathered more than 7,000 signatures by the evening of Dec. 14.
The Embassy of Finland in Japan wrote on social media on Dec. 15 that “sustained and determined efforts” are required to address racism.
The post said it is important to bring “experiences and observations of racism and discrimination” into the public discourse.
Historically, the slanted-eyes gesture has been used to mock Asians. It is now regarded as a typical form of anti-Asian discrimination.
In Western countries, images of the gesture have repeatedly sparked outrage.
As recently as August, the Swiss watchmaker Swatch was forced to apologize after using an advertisement featuring a man pulling up the corners of his eyes with both hands.
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Finnish lawmaker Juho Eerola’s slanted-eyes gesture (Captured from his Facebook account)
