Uimonen: Pacifism and sexual orientation behind opposition to Haavisto
Pekka Haavisto’s heavy defeat to Sauli Niinistö in the second round of the presidential election can be put down to three things: his past as a conscientious objector to military service, his homosexuality, and his not being a member of the Lutheran Church.
This is the view of Risto Uimonen of the Council for Mass Media in Finland.
The chair of the media standards authority was speaking to national broadcaster Yle shortly after the election result was announced late on Sunday evening.
These reasons for opposition to Haavisto’s bid for the presidency were especially decisive outside the capital region, Uimonen said. In the Helsinki region itself, Niinistö won by only around a thousand votes.
HT
Lehtikuva - Seppo Sirkka
