Timo Soini

Timo Juhani Soini (born 30 May 1962) is a Finnish politician who is the co-founder and former leader of the Finns Party. He served as Deputy Prime Minister of Finland from 2015 to 2017 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2019.

Quotes

There are human traffickers and people smugglers, organised activities. The President even spoke of escorts and queues. Everything suggests that it is illegal organised immigration and it should be stopped

We see demonstrations all the time about all kinds of things, but no one, nowhere has marched because of this

• People in this country have been sceptical about if the Finns Party had what it takes to be a part of government. For a long time now, we have been the most steadfast piece of the puzzle, despite the challenges. Why? Because we keep our word.
  • Timo Soini addressed his Finns Party council on March 12, 2016, and one of his main messages was that his party would prevail over recent plummeting support in public opinions polls, quoted on yle.fi, "Soini: Finns Party could gain back voters by next elections", March 13, 2016.
• At the time we didn’t make any satisfactory progress, but we at the Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office are in constant dialogue with Russia. The President and President Putin are also in regular phone contact. We’re in the kind of situation where things can’t continue or worsen. If we don’t go forward by negotiating then it will be time for harsher measures. There are human traffickers and people smugglers, organised activities. The President even spoke of escorts and queues. Everything suggests that it is illegal organised immigration and it should be stopped.
  • Soini on organized crime behind Russian borders, quoted on Yle.Fi, "Foreign Minister Soini: Organised crime behind Russian border crossings", February 22, 2016

• That’s a political decision. Finland has full control of its borders
  • Norway has adopted firmer methods than Finland to deal with the arrival of asylum seekers via its Arctic border with Russia. The country has effectively sealed the border to prevent further arrivals. Reporters asked Soini why Finland doesn’t do the same, quoted on Yle.Fi, "Foreign Minister Soini: Organised crime behind Russian border crossings", February 22, 2016

• I’ve been in contact with many of my friends there (Britain) this morning. As Independence Party supporters, they will not be swayed. They want out of the EU. A surprising number of Conservatives want out too, even in the upper echelons of the party
  • Predicts that the deal (Britain staying in the European Union) will face fierce criticism in Britain, quoted on Yle.Fi, "Finland responds positively to Britain's EU deal", January 20, 2016

• Our legislation in this area needed to be updated, and especially in light of France’s request for armed assistance after the attacks in Paris. We realized that our existing legislation was not flexible enough. We live in a fast changing world, and our laws on overseas military support must reflect new realities.
  • Timo Soini, Finland’s foreign minister, on Finland responding to other nations that are in need of support, such as battling ISIS, quoted on Defense News, "Finnish Legislation Seeks Direct Military Support for Partners", February 18, 2016

• If such a situation arises, that someone gains an advantage by waging war, that would be a bad example for small and weak nations. It is a shame for the entire international community, for the UN, international organisations and the superpowers that this can go on [referring to the Syrian Civil War. Of course public opinions need to be shaken up. We see demonstrations all the time about all kinds of things, but no one, nowhere has marched because of this.
  • Soini: No one has taken responsibility for Syria, quoted on Yli.Fi, "Foreign Minister Soini: Why is no one marching for Syria?", February 16, 2016

• We have been discussing here that Turkey would take responsibility and the other European countries would make our own contributions to the cause. This way we can extend help near to the crisis, which would make it easier for the migrants to return to their homes once the situation has calmed down.
  • Finland’s Prime Minister Juha Sipilä says one way to resolve the Syrian refugee crisis would be through the use of EU quotas. Foreign Minister Timo Soini rejects the idea, saying Turkey should take the main responsibility for stopping the migrants with the EU countries' financial help, quoted on Yle.Fi, "PM willing to raise refugee quota, FM says Turkey should take the lead", January 7, 2016.