Parliament votes against lifting MP’s immunity from hate speech prosecution The Finns Party [MP] described asylum seekers as an 'invasive species.'

June 26, 2020   

(Yle) Finns Party MP Juha Mäenpää will not be prosecuted for inciting ethnic hatred after a vote in parliament on lifting his immunity as a legislator fell short of the required five-sixths majority.

The proposal to lift his immunity was supported by 121 MPs, with 54 voting against and 24 legislators absent.

Prosecutor Raija Toiviainen had said she would have charged Mäenpää with incitement if immunity had been lifted, over a speech in parliament when he had compared asylum seekers to an invasive species.

According to the constitution, a majority of five-sixths of MPs needs to support the removal of immunity for comments made in parliament.

Read more.

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