Halla-aho will not resign from committee chairmanship
Finns Party MP Jussi Halla-aho will not give up his post after a conviction for inciting hatred against a religious group. He claims the decision is not 'divine truth', but the personal interpretation of a few people.
In a statement, the controversial politician said that neither he nor the Finns Party group was going to revisit his position as chair of parliament's administration committee, which handles immigration policy, his membership of the Finns Party's parliamentary group, or his candidature in this autumn's municipal elections.
Party leader Timo Soini had previously said that MPs convicted of hate speech should not serve in the party's parliamentary group. After the conviction of Halla-aho, one of the party's biggest vote-winners, Soini announced he had changed his mind.
Halla-aho claims the decision is wrong and unjust.
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