Finland's New Right-Wing Government Implements Immigration Crackdown

Finland's new coalition government, which includes the far-right Finns Party, announced plans to crack down on immigration, aiming to halve the number of refugees the Nordic country receives through the UN refugee agency from 1,050 a year to 500. The government also plans to establish separate social security benefit systems for immigrants and permanent residents, tighten conditions for obtaining permanent residency and citizenship, and reduce the duration of residence permits granted under international protection. The government also plans to crack down on street gangs, aiming to increase penalties for gang activity and introduce new legislation that makes street gang activity a separate aggravating offence. The immigration crackdown was a concession made by the future Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in order to secure support for his six-billion-euro austerity plan.