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{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Wille-Werner Rydman
| name = Wille Rydman
| honorific-suffix =
| honorific-suffix =
| party = [[Finns Party]]<ref>{{cite web| url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20011266| title = Kokoomuksesta eronnut Wille Rydman liittyy perussuomalaisiin| accessdate=3 January 2023}}</ref>
| party = [[Finns Party]]<ref>{{cite web| url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20011266| title = Kokoomuksesta eronnut Wille Rydman liittyy perussuomalaisiin| accessdate=3 January 2023}}</ref>
| otherparty = [[National Coalition Party]] (until 2023)
| otherparty = [[National Coalition Party]] (until 2023)
| image = Wille-Rydman-03 (cropped).jpg
| image = Wille-Rydman-03 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Wille Rydman in 2023
| caption = Rydman in 2023
| office = [[Minister of Economic Affairs (Finland)|Minister of Economic Affairs]]
| office = [[Minister of Economic Affairs (Finland)|Minister of Economic Affairs]]
| termstart = 6 July 2023
| termstart = 6 July 2023
Line 30: Line 30:
| occupation =
| occupation =
| profession =
| profession =
| website = {{URL|https://www.willerydman.fi/}}
| website = {{URL|willerydman.fi}}
}}
}}
'''Wille-Werner Rydman''' (born 2 January 1986 in [[Helsinki]]) is a Finnish politician serving as [[Minister of Economic Affairs (Finland)|Minister of Economic Affairs]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Finns Party picks Wille Rydman to replace outgoing economic affairs minister Junnila |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20039854 |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Yle News |language=en-GB}}</ref> representing the [[Finns Party]] and formerly the [[National Coalition Party]]. Rydman was elected to the parliament in 2015, gaining 4,524 votes in the elections.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/E-2015/fi/val01.html |title= Valitut ehdokkaat Helsingin vaalipiiri |publisher= Ministry of Justice|accessdate=25 April 2015}}</ref> He has also been a member of the [[City Council of Helsinki]] since 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/K2012/s/valitut/helsinkival.htm |title= Valitut ehdokkaat Helsinki |publisher= Ministry of Justice|accessdate=25 April 2015}}</ref> He received a Masters of Social Sciences from the [[University of Helsinki]] in 2008, after which he worked as a parliamentary assistant.<ref name="Eduskunta">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eduskunta.fi/EN/kansanedustajat/Pages/1282.aspx|title = Wille Rydman| publisher=Parliament of Finland}}</ref> On 6 July 2023, Rydman was appointed [[Minister of Economic Affairs (Finland)|Minister of Economic Affairs]] in the [[Orpo Cabinet]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wille Rydman nimitettiin elinkeinoministeriksi |url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009701548.html |date=2023-07-06 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref>
'''Wille-Werner Rydman''' (born 2 January 1986 in [[Helsinki]]) is a Finnish politician serving as [[Minister of Economic Affairs (Finland)|Minister of Economic Affairs]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Finns Party picks Wille Rydman to replace outgoing economic affairs minister Junnila |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20039854 |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Yle News |language=en-GB}}</ref> representing the [[Finns Party]] and formerly the [[National Coalition Party]]. Rydman was elected to the parliament in 2015, gaining 4,524 votes in the elections.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/E-2015/fi/val01.html |title= Valitut ehdokkaat Helsingin vaalipiiri |publisher= Ministry of Justice|accessdate=25 April 2015}}</ref> He has also been a member of the [[City Council of Helsinki]] since 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/K2012/s/valitut/helsinkival.htm |title= Valitut ehdokkaat Helsinki |publisher= Ministry of Justice|accessdate=25 April 2015}}</ref> He received a Masters of Social Sciences from the [[University of Helsinki]] in 2008, after which he worked as a parliamentary assistant.<ref name="Eduskunta">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eduskunta.fi/EN/kansanedustajat/Pages/1282.aspx|title = Wille Rydman| publisher=Parliament of Finland}}</ref> On 6 July 2023, Rydman was appointed [[Minister of Economic Affairs (Finland)|Minister of Economic Affairs]] in the [[Orpo Cabinet]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wille Rydman nimitettiin elinkeinoministeriksi |url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009701548.html |date=2023-07-06 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref>


==Political views==
== Political views ==
''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' named Rydman as one of the most right-wing members of Parliament elected in 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/a1305948033669| title = HS:n arvokartta näyttää, miten kansanedustajat sijoittuvat poliittiselle kentälle| access-date = 2015-08-26}}</ref> Rydman describes himself as a [[conservative]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://willerydman.fi/konservatismista-sailyttamisesta-ja-uudistamisesta/| title = Konservatismista, uudistamisesta ja säilyttämisestä| work = Willerydman.fi| date = 2010-05-25| publisher = Wille Rydman| access-date = 2017-01-18}}</ref>
''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' named Rydman as one of the most right-wing members of Parliament elected in 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/a1305948033669| title = HS:n arvokartta näyttää, miten kansanedustajat sijoittuvat poliittiselle kentälle| access-date = 2015-08-26}}</ref> Rydman describes himself as a [[conservative]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://willerydman.fi/konservatismista-sailyttamisesta-ja-uudistamisesta/| title = Konservatismista, uudistamisesta ja säilyttämisestä| work = Willerydman.fi| date = 2010-05-25| publisher = Wille Rydman| access-date = 2017-01-18}}</ref>


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After finishing the secondary school in [[Normal Lyceum of Helsinki]] and then his military service, he received a Masters of Social Sciences from the [[University of Helsinki]] in 2008. Completing his studies in two years.<ref name="Eduskunta"/> In November 2010 his national romantic symphony ''Aino. Sinfoninen runo kalevalaisesta legendasta'' was first performed by [[Tampere Academic Symphony Orchestra]] in [[Kouvola]].<ref name="VU2010" />
After finishing the secondary school in [[Normal Lyceum of Helsinki]] and then his military service, he received a Masters of Social Sciences from the [[University of Helsinki]] in 2008. Completing his studies in two years.<ref name="Eduskunta"/> In November 2010 his national romantic symphony ''Aino. Sinfoninen runo kalevalaisesta legendasta'' was first performed by [[Tampere Academic Symphony Orchestra]] in [[Kouvola]].<ref name="VU2010" />


==Controversies==
== Controversies ==
=== 2022 harassment scandal ===
=== 2022 harassment scandal ===
In June 2022, ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' published an article, where Rydman was accused of grooming and harassing young women and girls, while taking advantage of his status as a politician. In the article, some of the women described Rydman's use of violence and offers of alcohol even to underage girls.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hs.fi/sunnuntai/art-2000008840422.html | title = Kokoomuksen salaisuus | work = Helsingin Sanomat| date = 2022-06-29| access-date = 2023-07-06}}</ref> Rydman vehemently denied the claims. After the publication of the story, [[National Bureau of Investigation (Finland)|National Bureau of Investigation]] started a preliminary investigation into Rydman. However, no charges were brought against him.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://yle.fi/a/74-20009049 | title = Wille Rydmania vastaan ei nosteta syytettä epäillystä seksuaalirikoksesta – Rydman Ylelle: ”Lähden siitä, että olen eduskuntavaaleissa ehdolla Helsingistä” | website = Yle | date = 2022-12-16 | access-date = 2023-07-06}}</ref> After the article was published, the leader of the National Coalition Party [[Petteri Orpo]] stated that there was a lack of trust towards Rydman.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000008899278.html | title = Petteri Orpo kommentoi Wille Rydmanin tapausta Ylellä: "Iso luottamuspula" | work = Ilta-Sanomat | date = 2022-06-21 | access-date = 2023-07-06}}</ref> Rydman subsequently left the party and joined the Finns Party.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://yle.fi/a/74-20011266#:~:text=Kansanedustaja%20Wille%20Rydman%20kertoo%20liittyv%C3%A4ns%C3%A4,eduskuntavaaleissa%20ehdolla%20perussuomalaisten%20Helsingin%20vaalipiirist%C3%A4. | title = Kokoomuksesta eronnut Wille Rydman liittyy perussuomalaisiin | website = Yle | date = 2023-01-03 | access-date = 2023-07-06}}</ref> [[Helsinki Police Department]] launched a preliminary investigation into the ''Helsingin Sanomat'' article. The newspaper is accused of aggravated defamation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/3-12583717|title=Poliisi aloitti esitutkinnan Helsingin Sanomien Wille Rydman -uutisesta – lehteä epäillään törkeästä kunnianloukkauksesta|website = Yle|date = 2022-08-19|access-date = 2023-07-17}}</ref>
In June 2022, ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' published an article, where Rydman was accused of grooming and harassing young women and girls, while taking advantage of his status as a politician. In the article, some of the women described Rydman's use of violence and offers of alcohol even to underage girls.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hs.fi/sunnuntai/art-2000008840422.html | title = Kokoomuksen salaisuus | work = Helsingin Sanomat| date = 2022-06-29| access-date = 2023-07-06}}</ref> Rydman vehemently denied the claims. After the publication of the story, [[National Bureau of Investigation (Finland)|National Bureau of Investigation]] started a preliminary investigation into Rydman. However, no charges were brought against him.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://yle.fi/a/74-20009049 | title = Wille Rydmania vastaan ei nosteta syytettä epäillystä seksuaalirikoksesta – Rydman Ylelle: ”Lähden siitä, että olen eduskuntavaaleissa ehdolla Helsingistä” | website = Yle | date = 2022-12-16 | access-date = 2023-07-06}}</ref> After the article was published, the leader of the National Coalition Party [[Petteri Orpo]] stated that there was a lack of trust towards Rydman.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000008899278.html | title = Petteri Orpo kommentoi Wille Rydmanin tapausta Ylellä: "Iso luottamuspula" | work = Ilta-Sanomat | date = 2022-06-21 | access-date = 2023-07-06}}</ref> Rydman subsequently left the party and joined the Finns Party.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://yle.fi/a/74-20011266#:~:text=Kansanedustaja%20Wille%20Rydman%20kertoo%20liittyv%C3%A4ns%C3%A4,eduskuntavaaleissa%20ehdolla%20perussuomalaisten%20Helsingin%20vaalipiirist%C3%A4. | title = Kokoomuksesta eronnut Wille Rydman liittyy perussuomalaisiin | website = Yle | date = 2023-01-03 | access-date = 2023-07-06}}</ref> [[Helsinki Police Department]] launched a preliminary investigation into the ''Helsingin Sanomat'' article. The newspaper is accused of aggravated defamation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/3-12583717|title=Poliisi aloitti esitutkinnan Helsingin Sanomien Wille Rydman -uutisesta – lehteä epäillään törkeästä kunnianloukkauksesta|website = Yle|date = 2022-08-19|access-date = 2023-07-17}}</ref>
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=== 2023 racist text messages scandal ===
=== 2023 racist text messages scandal ===
Shortly after being named Minister of Economic Affairs in 2023, as the [[Finns Party]] ministers in the [[Orpo Cabinet]] faced several controversies, ''Helsingin Sanomat'' published a series of text messages Rydman had sent to his then-partner Amanda Blick in 2016 in which he used racist language.<ref>{{cite web|date=28 July 2023|title=HS publishes racist messages by Economic Affairs Minister Rydman|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20042871|author-last=|author-first=|access-date=29 July 2023|work=Yle}}</ref> Rydman had been a 30-year-old Member of Parliament during this time. In the messages Rydman juxtaposes himself with [[Nazis]] and attacks immigrants with racist terms. On one message, when Blick had told Rydman how she would like a [[Hebrew]] name for her child "such as [[Immanuel]]", Rydman answered: "Us Nazis don't really like that kind of [[kike]] things." On another, Rydman is complaining about Germany letting its [[Nazi architecture]] deteriorate. In other racist messages Rydman calls people from the [[Middle East]] as "monkeys" and "desert monkeys". While pondering about the heritability of his brown eyes, Rydman established: "Even if I bred with a pitch-black Nigerian [[nigger]] the child would still have a 26% chance to have green eyes."<ref>{{cite web |date=27 July 2023 |last1=Teittinen |first1=Paavo |title="Leviää ja lisääntyy kuin somali", "oksettaa tää aavikkoapina" – Ministeri Wille Rydmanin vanhoista viesteistä paljastuu toistuvaa rasistista kielenkäyttöä |url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009742553.html |website=Helsingin Sanomat |access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref>
Shortly after being named Minister of Economic Affairs in 2023, as the [[Finns Party]] ministers in the [[Orpo Cabinet]] faced several controversies, ''Helsingin Sanomat'' published a series of text messages Rydman had sent to his then-partner Amanda Blick in 2016 in which he used racist language.<ref>{{cite web|date=28 July 2023|title=HS publishes racist messages by Economic Affairs Minister Rydman|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20042871|author-last=|author-first=|access-date=29 July 2023|work=Yle}}</ref> Rydman had been a 30-year-old Member of Parliament during this time. In the messages Rydman juxtaposes himself with [[Nazis]] and attacks immigrants with racist terms. On one message, when Blick had told Rydman how she would like a [[Hebrew]] name for her child "such as [[Immanuel]]", Rydman answered: "Us Nazis don't really like that kind of [[kike]] things." On another, Rydman is complaining about Germany letting its [[Nazi architecture]] deteriorate. In other racist messages Rydman calls people from the [[Middle East]] as "monkeys" and "desert monkeys". While pondering about the heritability of his brown eyes, Rydman established: "Even if I bred with a pitch-black Nigerian [[nigger]] the child would still have a 26% chance to have green eyes."<ref>{{cite web |date=27 July 2023 |last1=Teittinen |first1=Paavo |title="Leviää ja lisääntyy kuin somali", "oksettaa tää aavikkoapina" – Ministeri Wille Rydmanin vanhoista viesteistä paljastuu toistuvaa rasistista kielenkäyttöä |url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009742553.html |website=Helsingin Sanomat |access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref>

Blick, a lawyer and a NCP member<ref>https://twitter.com/amanblick?lang=fi</ref> was one of the women interviewed for the June 2022 ''Helsingin Sanomat'' article. She had also made several reports of crimes to police in 2017, a year after Rydman ended the relationshp. None of the reports against Rydman which included accusations of stalking and trespassing, did lead to prosecution. Rydman himself called Blick's continuing reports harassment and accused her of organising a group to defame him.<ref>{{cite web|date=21 June 2022|title=Wille Rydmanin ex-avopuoliso Amanda astui esiin – kertoo nyt oman versionsa eron jälkeisistä tapahtumista|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/6d08af1b-8c8d-43f8-9e3d-b98912551554|author-last=|author-first=|access-date=31 July 2023|work=Iltalehti}}</ref>


In response to the messages, Rydman stated that he would consider taking legal action against the newspaper for publishing the private messages, and Prime Minister [[Petteri Orpo]] stated that the messages were "inappropriate" but that "the government's work is what needs to be taken care of."<ref>{{cite web|date=28 July 2023|title=PM: Government cooperation will continue despite "inappropriate" Rydman messages|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20042985|author-last=|author-first=|access-date=29 July 2023|work=Yle}}</ref>
In response to the messages, Rydman stated that he would consider taking legal action against the newspaper for publishing the private messages, and Prime Minister [[Petteri Orpo]] stated that the messages were "inappropriate" but that "the government's work is what needs to be taken care of."<ref>{{cite web|date=28 July 2023|title=PM: Government cooperation will continue despite "inappropriate" Rydman messages|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20042985|author-last=|author-first=|access-date=29 July 2023|work=Yle}}</ref>

Yaron Nadbornik, President of the Central Council of Jewish Communities in Finland, expressed strong support for Rydman and called him a "friend of the community".<ref>{{cite web|date=28 July 2023|title=Ministeri Rydman käytti HS:n mukaan herjaavaa kieltä juutalaisista – juutalaisyhteisön johtaja ja kokoomusaktiivi: "Rydman on yhteisön ystävä"|url=https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/ministeri-rydman-kaytti-hs-n-mukaan-herjaavaa-kielta-juutalaisista-juutalaisyhteison-johtaja-ja-kokoomusaktiivi-rydman-on-yhteison-ystava/8746440|author-last=|author-first=|access-date=1 August 2023|work=MTV Uutiset}}</ref>


=== Rydman's comments ===
=== Rydman's comments ===
⚫
In an interview with NCP online media ''Verkkouutiset'' on 3 August, Rydman considered it self-evident that the whole Orpo's government adhered to people's [[constitutional rights]]. He didn't want to comment further the private messages published by ''HS'', saying he didn't want to normalise the use of private exchange in journalism or in public discourse. He however found it strange that in the 31 July article the newspaper used the same source and journalist, who both already were under crime investigation conserning the previous 2022 article. Furthermore, Rydman said the term "racism" had suffered from inflation due to it's profilicated usage in certain hands, which had caused the meaning of the term get blurred and making it difficult to have public [political] discourse. The media he accused of trying to hamstring the new government by driving a wedge between the coalition parties and continuously casting doubt on it's cohesion and functionality.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wille Rydman: Itsestään selvää, että kaikki sitoutuneet perustuslailliseen yhdenvertaisuuteen |url=https://www.suomenuutiset.fi/wille-rydman-itsestaan-selvaa-etta-kaikki-sitoutuneet-perustuslailliseen-yhdenvertaisuuteen/ |publisher=Suomen Uutiset |access-date=4 August 2023 |date=3 August 2023}}</ref>

⚫
In an interview with NCP online media ''Verkkouutiset'' on 3 August, Rydman considered it self-evident that the whole Orpo's government adhered to people's [[constitutional rights]]. He didn't want to comment further the private messages published by ''HS'', saying he didn't want to normalise the use of private exchange in journalism or in public discourse. He however found it strange that in the 31 July article the newspaper used the same source and journalist, who both already were under crime investigation conserning the previous 2022 article. Furthermore, Rydman said the term "rascim" had suffered from inflation due to it's profilicated usage in certain hands, which had caused the meaning of the term get blurred and making it difficult to have public [political] discourse. The media he accused of trying to hamstring the new government by driving a wedge between the coalition parties and continuously casting doubt on it's cohesion and functionality.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wille Rydman: Itsestään selvää, että kaikki sitoutuneet perustuslailliseen yhdenvertaisuuteen |url=https://www.suomenuutiset.fi/wille-rydman-itsestaan-selvaa-etta-kaikki-sitoutuneet-perustuslailliseen-yhdenvertaisuuteen/ |publisher=Suomen Uutiset |access-date=4 August 2023 |date=3 August 2023}}</ref>


=== Helsingin Sanomat stance ===
=== Helsingin Sanomat stance ===

On 27 July ''HS'' editor Laura Saarikoski defended the usage of private exchange. According to her it was of an exceptional significance, and there were no prohibitions to publishing information that could affect the assessment of an influential person's actions in duty. Saarikoski also commented on using the same journalist, stating the ongoing crime investigation should not let to have an effect to the newspaper's or it's employees' desicions, preventing them from covering Rydman. She disclaimed Rydman's accusations against the newspaper's June 2022 article, stating ″''HS'' had not aquired any new information that would put in question the article content or accounts of the women interviewed.″<ref>{{cite web |last1=Saarikoski |first1=Laura |title=Poliitikon mielipiteillä on yleistä merkitystä |url=https://www.hs.fi/paakirjoitukset/art-2000009743867.html |publisher=Helsingin Sanomat |access-date=4 August 2023 |date=27 July 2023}}</ref>
On 27 July ''HS'' editor Laura Saarikoski defended the usage of private exchange. According to her it was of an exceptional significance, and there were no prohibitions to publishing information that could affect the assessment of an influential person's actions in duty. Saarikoski also commented on using the same journalist, stating the ongoing crime investigation should not let to have an effect to the newspaper's or it's employees' desicions, preventing them from covering Rydman. She disclaimed Rydman's accusations against the newspaper's June 2022 article, stating ″''HS'' had not aquired any new information that would put in question the article content or accounts of the women interviewed.″<ref>{{cite web |last1=Saarikoski |first1=Laura |title=Poliitikon mielipiteillä on yleistä merkitystä |url=https://www.hs.fi/paakirjoitukset/art-2000009743867.html |publisher=Helsingin Sanomat |access-date=4 August 2023 |date=27 July 2023}}</ref>


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
<references />


{{Eduskunta members 2023–2027}}
{{Eduskunta members 2023–2027}}

Revision as of 10:56, 6 August 2023

Wille Rydman
Rydman in 2023
Minister of Economic Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 July 2023
Prime MinisterPetteri Orpo
Preceded byVilhelm Junnila
Member of Parliament
for Uusimaa
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 April 2015
Personal details
Born (1986-01-02) 2 January 1986 (age 38)
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
Political partyFinns Party[1]
Other political
affiliations		National Coalition Party (until 2023)
Alma materUniversity of Helsinki
Websitewillerydman.fi

Wille-Werner Rydman (born 2 January 1986 in Helsinki) is a Finnish politician serving as Minister of Economic Affairs,[2] representing the Finns Party and formerly the National Coalition Party. Rydman was elected to the parliament in 2015, gaining 4,524 votes in the elections.[3] He has also been a member of the City Council of Helsinki since 2012.[4] He received a Masters of Social Sciences from the University of Helsinki in 2008, after which he worked as a parliamentary assistant.[5] On 6 July 2023, Rydman was appointed Minister of Economic Affairs in the Orpo Cabinet.[6]

Political views

Helsingin Sanomat named Rydman as one of the most right-wing members of Parliament elected in 2015.[7] Rydman describes himself as a conservative.[8]

Life outside of politics

Rydman has always taken interest in music, especially classical music, and his grandfather is composer and music teacher Kari Rydman[9] As a child he was a member in Cantores minores boy-chore. He studied music theory in Sibelius Academy and in The Helsinki Conservatory of Music, playing consert flute. He has also served as a chairman of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and as a board member of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.[10]

After finishing the secondary school in Normal Lyceum of Helsinki and then his military service, he received a Masters of Social Sciences from the University of Helsinki in 2008. Completing his studies in two years.[5] In November 2010 his national romantic symphony Aino. Sinfoninen runo kalevalaisesta legendasta was first performed by Tampere Academic Symphony Orchestra in Kouvola.[9]

Controversies

2022 harassment scandal

In June 2022, Helsingin Sanomat published an article, where Rydman was accused of grooming and harassing young women and girls, while taking advantage of his status as a politician. In the article, some of the women described Rydman's use of violence and offers of alcohol even to underage girls.[11] Rydman vehemently denied the claims. After the publication of the story, National Bureau of Investigation started a preliminary investigation into Rydman. However, no charges were brought against him.[12] After the article was published, the leader of the National Coalition Party Petteri Orpo stated that there was a lack of trust towards Rydman.[13] Rydman subsequently left the party and joined the Finns Party.[14] Helsinki Police Department launched a preliminary investigation into the Helsingin Sanomat article. The newspaper is accused of aggravated defamation.[15]

In February 2023, Rydman published a book Salaisuus jota ei ollut, in which he told his own view of the course of events. After the release, the National Bureau of Investigation made a request to the Helsinki Police Department for an investigation of the book in order to find out whether the book contains confidential information. According to Iltalehti, Rydman has included into the book confidential and classified information from the preliminary investigation.[16] After the preliminary investigation, the Helsinki Police Department stated that a trial or sentence would be unreasonable or purposeless, considering the other consequences of the act for the suspect.[17]

2023 racist text messages scandal

Shortly after being named Minister of Economic Affairs in 2023, as the Finns Party ministers in the Orpo Cabinet faced several controversies, Helsingin Sanomat published a series of text messages Rydman had sent to his then-partner Amanda Blick in 2016 in which he used racist language.[18] Rydman had been a 30-year-old Member of Parliament during this time. In the messages Rydman juxtaposes himself with Nazis and attacks immigrants with racist terms. On one message, when Blick had told Rydman how she would like a Hebrew name for her child "such as Immanuel", Rydman answered: "Us Nazis don't really like that kind of kike things." On another, Rydman is complaining about Germany letting its Nazi architecture deteriorate. In other racist messages Rydman calls people from the Middle East as "monkeys" and "desert monkeys". While pondering about the heritability of his brown eyes, Rydman established: "Even if I bred with a pitch-black Nigerian nigger the child would still have a 26% chance to have green eyes."[19]

In response to the messages, Rydman stated that he would consider taking legal action against the newspaper for publishing the private messages, and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that the messages were "inappropriate" but that "the government's work is what needs to be taken care of."[20]

Rydman's comments

In an interview with NCP online media Verkkouutiset on 3 August, Rydman considered it self-evident that the whole Orpo's government adhered to people's constitutional rights. He didn't want to comment further the private messages published by HS, saying he didn't want to normalise the use of private exchange in journalism or in public discourse. He however found it strange that in the 31 July article the newspaper used the same source and journalist, who both already were under crime investigation conserning the previous 2022 article. Furthermore, Rydman said the term "racism" had suffered from inflation due to it's profilicated usage in certain hands, which had caused the meaning of the term get blurred and making it difficult to have public [political] discourse. The media he accused of trying to hamstring the new government by driving a wedge between the coalition parties and continuously casting doubt on it's cohesion and functionality.[21]

Helsingin Sanomat stance

On 27 July HS editor Laura Saarikoski defended the usage of private exchange. According to her it was of an exceptional significance, and there were no prohibitions to publishing information that could affect the assessment of an influential person's actions in duty. Saarikoski also commented on using the same journalist, stating the ongoing crime investigation should not let to have an effect to the newspaper's or it's employees' desicions, preventing them from covering Rydman. She disclaimed Rydman's accusations against the newspaper's June 2022 article, stating ″HS had not aquired any new information that would put in question the article content or accounts of the women interviewed.″[22]

References

  1. ^ "Kokoomuksesta eronnut Wille Rydman liittyy perussuomalaisiin". Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Finns Party picks Wille Rydman to replace outgoing economic affairs minister Junnila". Yle News. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Valitut ehdokkaat Helsingin vaalipiiri". Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Valitut ehdokkaat Helsinki". Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Wille Rydman". Parliament of Finland.
  6. ^ "Wille Rydman nimitettiin elinkeinoministeriksi". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  7. ^ "HS:n arvokartta näyttää, miten kansanedustajat sijoittuvat poliittiselle kentälle". Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Konservatismista, uudistamisesta ja säilyttämisestä". Willerydman.fi. Wille Rydman. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  9. ^ a b Tikka, Juha-Pekka (23 September 2010). "Kokoomusjohtaja sävelsi sinfonian". Verkkouutiset. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Introduction: Wille Rydman". willerydman.fi. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Kokoomuksen salaisuus". Helsingin Sanomat. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Wille Rydmania vastaan ei nosteta syytettä epäillystä seksuaalirikoksesta – Rydman Ylelle: "Lähden siitä, että olen eduskuntavaaleissa ehdolla Helsingistä"". Yle. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Petteri Orpo kommentoi Wille Rydmanin tapausta Ylellä: "Iso luottamuspula"". Ilta-Sanomat. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Kokoomuksesta eronnut Wille Rydman liittyy perussuomalaisiin". Yle. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Poliisi aloitti esitutkinnan Helsingin Sanomien Wille Rydman -uutisesta – lehteä epäillään törkeästä kunnianloukkauksesta". Yle. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  16. ^ "IL:n tiedot: KRP teki Rydmanin kirjasta tutkintapyynnön". Iltalehti. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Poliisi ei aloita esitutkintaa Wille Rydmanin kirjasta". Helsingin Sanomat. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  18. ^ "HS publishes racist messages by Economic Affairs Minister Rydman". Yle. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  19. ^ Teittinen, Paavo (27 July 2023). ""Leviää ja lisääntyy kuin somali", "oksettaa tää aavikkoapina" – Ministeri Wille Rydmanin vanhoista viesteistä paljastuu toistuvaa rasistista kielenkäyttöä". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  20. ^ "PM: Government cooperation will continue despite "inappropriate" Rydman messages". Yle. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Wille Rydman: Itsestään selvää, että kaikki sitoutuneet perustuslailliseen yhdenvertaisuuteen". Suomen Uutiset. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  22. ^ Saarikoski, Laura (27 July 2023). "Poliitikon mielipiteillä on yleistä merkitystä". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 4 August 2023.


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