A FINNISH MP has included support for Scottish independence in his election campaign to the Finnish Parliament.
As part of his bid for re-election, Mikko Kärnä released a provocative poster which depicts an illustration of the politician wielding a gun, a dead goose, and a leaf of cannabis while standing in-front of seven flag poles, one of which is flying the Saltire.
Speaking to The National about why he decided to include Scottish independence as part of his campaign, Kärnä said: “I have been a long-time supporter of Scotland’s independence and the right to decide.
On aika tuulettaa Helsinkiä. Tule mukaan tekemään taatusti vauhdikkainta vaalikampanjaa Uralin tällä puolen! mm. Lähiluonnon, tavallisten ihmisten asioiden, NATOn, LGBTQQIP2SA oikeuksien, lihansyönnin, kaupunkiviljelyn, hanhivapaan Helsingin ja paremman päihdepolitiikan puolesta! pic.twitter.com/7XsiAjftMm
— Mikko Kärnä 🇫🇮🇺🇦 (@KarnaMikko) November 7, 2022
“I believe each nation has the right to choose its own future and vote on independence if that’s what majority of Scots want. I also support Catalonia and Taiwan.”
Indeed, the flags of Catalonia and Taiwan also feature in the poster alongside the Finnish flag, the Pride flag, the Ukrainian flag and the flag of Nato.
The poster is also intended to highlight the politician’s support for hunting, cannabis legalisation, urban farming, and meat eating.
He is a member of the Centre Party in Finland, which is characterised by its support of decentralisation and is part of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s coalition government.
Earlier this year Kärnä visited the Scottish Parliament in a bid to strengthen Scotland’s ties to the Nordic Council.
Speaking in the Finnish Parliament upon his return he said: “We see Scotland very much as a Nordic nation and perhaps one day Scotland will take its place amongst other like-minded Nordic nations and help us live, work and continue to create a harmonious relationship across the nations of Northern Europe.”
The Finnish elections are due to take place in April next year with Kärnä aiming to secure a seat in the district of Helsinki, the country's capital city.
Kärnä has previously made headlines in Finland for calling for a boycott on Turkish kebab after Turkey voiced objections to Finland’s application to join NATO.
He said that if Turkey approved Finland’s membership bid he would eat Turkish kebab every day for a month.
